Pakistan's First Documentary in International Feature Film Oscar Category

The 99th Academy Awards will witness history with the inclusion of the documentary film, "Hanging by a Wire," as Pakistan's selection in the international feature film category. This decision, a first in Pakistan's filmmaking history, was revealed by Sana Zahra Jafri, deputy chair of the Pakistan Academy Selection Committee.

Singlehandedly directed, written, and produced by Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Bilal Sami, "Hanging by a Wire" explores the harrowing incident in northern Pakistan, Battagram. In August 2023, a snapped cable left eight passengers - including six students heading to school - suspended around 900 feet above a ravine. The subsequent rescue operation was witnessed live by viewers not onlywithin Pakistan but worldwide.

Naqvi utilises a mixture of eyewitness footage, survivor testimonials, and scripted reenactments by individuals part of the rescue mission, to construct the narrative of the film. Debuting at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Documentary Competition lineup, it went on to make its mark at the Tribeca Festival.

EverWonder Studio, Universal Pictures Content Group, Mindhouse Productions, and 64th Street Media jointly produced the film. Dogwoof and Abramorama manage its theatrical distribution in the UK and US, respectively. Made available for streaming on Paramount+ from October 28th, the movie brings the gripping Battagram rescue story to the forefront in the International Feature Film Oscar race for Pakistan. Despite 13 submissions since 1959, Pakistan is still yet to secure a nomination - the closest being Saim Sadiq’s “Joyland’ getting shortlisted in 2022.