A short film from Hyderabad (Sindh, Pakistan), made on a budget of less than PKR 100K, has just made it to Cannes 2025 — and Pakistanis couldn’t feel more proud.
Titled Karmash, this experimental short is the third film by self-taught filmmaker Aleem Bukhari and premiered today at the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Cinéastes) at Cannes 2025, with English and French subtitles. What makes this even more special is that Karmash is the first Pakistani short film ever selected for the Directors’ Fortnight section. That’s right — a desi, no-fuss, all-heart film from the streets of Hyderabad has reached one of the most talked-about cinematic platforms in the world, giving all of us serious reason to celebrate.
What Is Karmash All About?
Directed and co-written by Aleem Bukhari, Karmash is produced by Irfan Noor K under the collective banner of Sleepbyte Films — a group of six friends who basically did it all themselves. Irfan Noor K, who also plays the lead role, stars as the great-grandson of Babak Karmash, the last heir of a fictional tribe. The film tells the story of this man as he remembers his long-lost family traditions and wanders through broken memories of his past, his roots, and a city slowly disappearing like a fading dream. The film explores how Karmash deals with memory, ancestry, and madness while drifting through the ruins of a decaying city. It’s eerie, surreal, and shot in black and white giving it an old-school yet unsettling feel. But Karmash isn’t your typical short film with a neat plot. It’s more like a visual journal or a memory glitch, where sound, imagery, and emotion are used to disturb and draw you in. It leaves you thinking, and maybe even a little haunted.
How Much Did It Take To Bring Karmash To Life?
Here’s the wild part: the team originally planned to make the film with just PKR 10,000 to 15,000. That’s how minimal the setup was. Then they got co-producer Salman Israr on board, and the film was finally shot with a total budget of just PKR 50,000. Most of the cost went into fuel and food. Equipment? They used a Sony A6400 with a 35mm lens. Crew? Just the six core members of Sleepbyte Films — Aleem Bukhari, Irfan Noor K, Ebad Talpur, Shahzain Ali Detho, Muhammad Ali Shaikh, and Qadir Abbas. Transportation? Motorbikes under the summer sun in Hyderabad. From location scouting to sound design, each of them brought their own talent to the table — not for fame, but because they were genuinely obsessed with the story they wanted to tell.
Aleem Bukhari, who earlier made Sapola in 2018 and Anaari Science in 2024, clearly has a thing for strong, out-of-the-box storytelling. And now with Karmash, he’s taken that love for strange, thought-provoking cinema all the way to Cannes. The fact that a no-budget, homegrown film has reached such an international platform is a massive win for young Pakistani creatives. It’s a reminder that our stories — rooted in our own cities, our language, our madness — have the power to travel far and resonate loud.
Why Pakistani Stories Matter On The Global Stage
Aleem Bukhari himself shared a powerful message: “You don’t make a film for Cannes, you make it for yourself — from your roots, your culture, and your own story.” That authenticity is what truly matters. When Pakistani films, especially indie shorts like Karmash, make it to global platforms like Cannes, they do more than just gain recognition. They offer people around the world a chance to see Pakistan through the eyes of Pakistanis — not through stereotypes or outsiders’ views, but through our own words, landscapes, and emotions. For many viewers who might never get a chance to visit Pakistan, these films become a window into our lives, our struggles, and our unique culture. This is why promoting Pakistani cinema, especially short films with meaningful narratives, is so important. It’s not just about fame or awards — it’s about telling stories that connect, inspire, and show the real Pakistan to the world.
As Karmash premiered today at Cannes, it’s not just a proud moment for the team but a proud moment for all of us. This is the kind of story that makes you believe in the magic of raw, unfiltered creativity. A story told with no compromises, no corporate filters — just heart, hustle, and heritage.
Sources: Express Tribune, The Diplomatic Insight and Asian Movie Pulse.
