Pakistani Films Shine at TIFF 2025 with Ghost School and Permanent Guest

The 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has always been a stage where global cinema thrives, and this year Pakistan claimed a powerful spotlight through two women-led projects. Seemab Gul’s debut feature Ghost School and Sana Jafri’s short Permanent Guest captured attention at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, marking a milestone moment for Pakistani cinema on the global map.

Ghost School tells the story of a ten-year-old girl named Rabia who discovers her public school has been shut down, sparking a personal quest to uncover the reason behind the closure. While at first she believes in mystical explanations, the truth reveals itself as something far more haunting — systemic neglect, corruption, and failures in governance. Gul’s observational style, rooted in her documentary background, breathes authenticity into the narrative. The film’s patient camerawork and lyrical storytelling highlight how a child’s perspective can unravel the complexities of societal issues. Its premiere at TIFF was a sold-out event, met with applause and reflection, positioning Gul as a bold new voice in global cinema.

Equally striking was Sana Jafri’s Permanent Guest, a 14-minute short screened in TIFF’s Short Cuts section. With measured restraint and powerful symbolism, the film explores trauma as an unwelcome companion that never leaves. Through delicate framing and a slow reveal of the protagonist’s struggles, Jafri emphasizes the emotional permanence of pain. Featuring strong performances by Rasti Farooq, Salman Shahid, Nadia Afgan, and Ali Tahir, the film blends silence, tension, and nuanced acting to deliver a profound impact. Despite being crowdfunded, the short stood tall among international selections, proving that resource limitations cannot stop compelling stories from reaching global stages.

Together, these films build on a growing legacy of Pakistani directors at TIFF. Saim Sadiq’s Joyland enthralled audiences in 2022, followed by Zarrar Kahn’s In Flames and Fawzia Mirza’s Queen of My Dreams in 2023. Now, Gul and Jafri extend this legacy, signaling that Pakistan’s new wave of cinema is fearless, diverse, and globally relevant. Both directors highlight how festivals like TIFF offer the visibility and validation often absent in Pakistan’s local industry, where formal grants and state funding remain scarce. Their journeys, supported by community efforts, international collaborators, and sheer determination, are proof of resilience and creative courage.

Ghost School stands out for its poetic sequences, such as a lingering walk shared by Rabia and her school’s former security guard, where silence and imagery speak louder than words. It reflects Gul’s influences from Iranian auteurs while retaining a distinctly South Asian identity. On the other hand, Permanent Guest draws from theatre traditions, with Jafri’s careful blocking and storyboarding resulting in emotionally charged single-take sequences that intensify the viewer’s experience. Both films carry the voices of Pakistani women directors who are redefining storytelling from within and presenting it with global resonance.

TIFF 2025, with over 200 titles from 75 countries, offered these Pakistani films a platform not only to be seen but to be celebrated. Critics, festival programmers, and audiences recognized their significance, with Ghost School and Permanent Guest receiving praise for their depth, authenticity, and courage. The presence of these films at TIFF also highlights the evolving role of women in Pakistan’s film industry, both in leadership and creative vision, paving the way for future filmmakers.

As Pakistan continues to gain recognition on international stages, films like Ghost School and Permanent Guest become cultural milestones. They show that even in the absence of institutional support, determined storytellers can bring forth narratives that resonate universally. Their success is not just a cinematic achievement but a declaration that Pakistani cinema, led by fresh voices and bold perspectives, is ready to take its place among the world’s best.