A film that is brave and pathbreaking in its very concept, and despite the courageous journey it takes us on, is enhanced by the simplicity of its narrative; it draws you in for the uniqueness of the story, the vulnerability and honesty of the characters; the Narrative Jury has decided to give a Special mention in the International Narrative Shorts category to the Pakistani film STRAY DOGS COME OUT AT NIGHT directed by Hamza Bangash

-Ritesh Batra, KASHISH 2021 Special Jury Mention

SYNOPSIS

Karachi, Pakistan. Iqbal, a migrant sex worker, cannot come to terms with his illness. He convinces his uncle to take a day trip to the beach, desperate for respite. The Arabian sea beckons.

PRESS

>Moving at a poetic pace, Stray Dogs Come Out at Night is a heartrending short balancing its tragedy against enchanting visuals and haunting soundscapes.
Matthaeus Choo, Sinema

>Pure cinema.
Alex Billington, First Showing

>This 11-minute short may centre around some very specific circumstances but has universal appeal through its focus on life,
death and everything in between.
Rob Munday, Short of the Week

>Bangash cuts from a stray meandering on the beach to Iqbal, as he stares at the sea. Other times, Iqbal strolls with his back to camera while the sound of a panting dog is heard. Stray Dogs Come Out At Night brings that parallel together by ending at a moment of change that makes the viewer gasp
Orla Smith, Seventh Row ‘Six Best Shorts at LFF 2020’

SCREENINGS

Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2020 | France
BFI: London Film Festival 2020 | UK
Palm Springs International ShortFest 2020 | USA
Tampere International Short Film Festival 2020 | Finland
REGARD International Short Film Festival 2020 | Canada
Fribourg International Film Festival 2020 | Switzerland
Nashville Film Festival 2020 | US
Queer Lisboa FF 2020 | Portugal
BFI: Flare FF 2020 | United Kingdom
Tasveer South Asian Film Festival 2020 | US
Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2020 | US
DC South Asian Film Festival 2020 | US
Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival 2020 | Canada
Nepal America International Film Festival 2020 | US
South Asian Film Festival of Montreal 2020 | Canada
Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival 2020 | Canada
Rendezvous with Madness Festival 2020 | Canada
Singapore Mental Health Festival 2020 | Singapore
Dharamshala International Film Festival 2020 | India
Lovers Film Festival 2020 | Italy
Art200 Film Festival 2020 | Romania
DIALOGUES: Calcutta International LGBTQIA Film & Video Festival 2020 | India
Jaffna International Cinema Festival 2020 | Sri Lanka
Divvy Film Festival 2020 | Pakistan
Reelout Queer Film Festival 2021 | Canada
Bangkok Ignite Film Festival / Groundbreakers 2021 | Thailand
Mardi Gras Film Festival 2021 | Australia
Portland International Film Festival 2021 | USA
Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2021 | India | Special Jury Mention
London Indian Film Festival 2021 | United Kingdom
Slovak Queer Film Festival 2021 | Slovakia