In a historic milestone for the country's national cinema, Mohammed Ali Naqvi's acclaimed documentary thriller Hanging by a Wire has been officially selected as Pakistan's submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. This marks the first time a documentary has been chosen to represent Pakistan in the prestigious Oscar race.
Chronicling a Miraculous Rescue
The gripping nonfiction film revisits the harrowing and dramatic August 2023 cable car emergency in the remote Battagram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The disaster unfolded when a snapped cable left eight passengers—including six school children and two local adults—suspended in a rickety cable car dangling roughly 900 feet above a steep ravine.
The documentary combines tense archival footage captured by local residents during the hours of uncertainty with dramatic reconstructions. It highlights the collective anxiety, collective resolve, and extraordinary local resourcefulness that defined the high-stakes rescue operation, which ultimately saved all eight lives after hours of suspense.
Critical Acclaim and International Recognition
Since its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier in the year, Hanging by a Wire has enjoyed a strong international festival run, screening at prestigious events like the Seattle and Sydney film festivals. Co-produced across the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and the United States, the film has drawn widespread praise for its visceral storytelling and depiction of human endurance against natural adversity.
Director Mo Naqvi, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker known for tackling complex social issues, stepped down from his role as chairperson of the Pakistan Academy Selection Committee to ensure a transparent submission process for his work. The selection committee, headed by deputy chairperson Sana Zahra Jafri, praised the project for bringing an authentic, powerful narrative of northern Pakistan to the global stage.
A New Chapter for Pakistani Cinema
Film critics and industry insiders have welcomed the selection as a watershed moment for Pakistani documentary filmmaking, proving that local non-fiction stories possess the emotional depth and cinematic caliber to compete globally. As Hanging by a Wire prepares for its upcoming Oscar campaign, cinephiles across the country are hoping the gripping real-life tale of courage will capture the attention of the Academy's voting members.