The day kicked off with a packed auditorium for the children’s theatre play, “The Treasure Hunt”, written and directed by Hassan Malik. The 60-minute play, presented in both Urdu and English, drew a great turnout with children filling every seat. The interactive performance featured magical scenes, talking animals, and thrilling adventures, encouraging kids to chant, respond to the actors, and even share high fives with one of the talking animals who came down from the stage to greet the front rows.
The story followed a group of brave children on a mysterious treasure hunt, ultimately revealing that real strength lies in friendship, courage and trust. Laughter and applause echoed throughout the auditorium as young audiences were both entertained and inspired by lessons in teamwork and confidence.
The cast included Aliza, Hashir, Adil, Suleman Roomi, Asim, Marhaba, Raza, Hamza Ranjha, and Samina.
Following the play, Canada-based theatre artist Ahmed Meree conducted a special theatre workshop for students from the Arts Council Theatre Academy. Meree demonstrated techniques to capture audience attention, including the effective use of claps, while guiding participants on creative expression and confidence-building. Attendees also exchanged insights on local and international cultural experiences. Meree highlighted modern trends in theatre and emphasised the importance of seizing opportunities provided by international cultural festivals to further their artistic growth.
The 26th day concluded with the Balkan Showcase Film Screening, which presented two compelling films from Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Türkiye’s documentary, “Soil and Wings”, directed by Stefan Malešević, followed the mission of a dedicated scientist working to save endangered bird species.
Bosnia and Herzegovina offered “Good Luck, Sara!” directed by Isidora Ratković, a short film tracing the journey of an aspiring musician rebuilding her life after the war. Audiences appreciated the distinctive storytelling and strong narratives showcased in both films.