Day 26 of World Culture Festival Showcases Theatre, Workshops, and Balkan Film Highlights

  By: Aziz Khatri

 Karachi: On the 26th day of the World Culture Festival 2025, young audiences enjoyed a children’s theatre play, a hands-on theatre workshop, and an international film showcase, underscoring the festival’s commitment to cultural exchange and artistic expression.

The day began with the children’s theatre performance “The Treasure Hunt”, written and directed by Hassan Malik. The play, featuring a cast of Aliza, Hashir, Adil, Suleman Roomi, Asim, Marhaba, Raza, Hamza Ranjha, and Samina, was presented in both Urdu and English. Magical scenes, talking animals, and adventurous quests captured the imagination of the audience, while the story highlighted themes of friendship, courage, and trust. The auditorium resonated with laughter and applause throughout the performance.

Following the play, Canada-based theatre artist Ahmed Meree conducted a special theatre workshop for students of the Arts Council Theatre Academy. Meree shared techniques to engage audiences, the creative use of applause, and strategies to build confidence and expression on stage. Students also exchanged ideas on local and international cultural practices, while Meree emphasized the opportunities offered by global cultural festivals.

The day concluded with the Balkan Showcase Film Screening, featuring two internationally acclaimed films. Türkiye’s documentary “Soil and Wings”, directed by Stefan Malešević, followed a scientist’s efforts to protect endangered bird species, while Bosnia & Herzegovina’s short film “Good Luck, Sara!”, directed by Isidora Ratković, depicted the journey of an aspiring musician rebuilding her life after the war. Audiences applauded the films’ compelling storytelling and strong narratives.

The 26th day of the festival once again highlighted the World Culture Festival’s mission to foster artistic creativity, intercultural dialogue, and youth engagement.