Renowned filmmaker Mohammed Ali Naqvi, a three-time Emmy nominee and Chairman of the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee, has introduced the Pakistan Crescent Collective (PCC) ahead of its debut at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2024.

This marks Pakistan’s official entry into the 77th edition of the festival, setting a significant milestone for the country’s cinematic representation on the global stage.

The establishment of PCC signifies Pakistan’s inaugural formal presence at Cannes, providing a vital platform for showcasing its diverse cinematic talent. Naqvi, in a press release on Monday, underscored the importance of initiatives like The Crescent Collective, particularly for a nation with limited representation at Cannes. He emphasized, “We are dedicated to uplifting Pakistani cinema and highlighting talent, both domestically and internationally. It’s time to recognize and celebrate our own achievements.”

During the week-long event from May 14-20, PCC will play a pivotal role in discovering and nurturing emerging talent, preserving cinematic creations, and promoting Pakistani and diaspora films worldwide, thereby advancing Pakistan’s cinematic narrative.

Pakistan has made significant strides at Cannes in recent years, with acclaimed films such as Joyland in 2022 and last year’s In Flames serving as official submissions to the Academy Awards. The Legend of Maula Jatt also achieved the distinction of becoming the highest-grossing Pakistani film to date, while Pakistani representation in Hollywood has seen a notable rise. Naqvi’s contributions include co-executive producing two seasons of the Netflix hit, Turning Point: The Bomb & The Cold War, and directing The Accused: Damned or Devoted?, the first Pakistani film nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.