‘Hanging by a Wire’ has made history as the first documentary film selected as Pakistan’s official entry for the Academy Awards (Oscars).
Director Mohammed Ali Naqvi described the selection as a “huge moment for the film, its incredible team and the stories they champion.”
The selection marks the first time a documentary has represented Pakistan in the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category.
The Pakistan Academy Selection Committee selected the film as Pakistan’s official entry, marking a historic milestone for Pakistani documentary filmmaking. However, the documentary has not yet been shortlisted or officially nominated for an Oscar by the Academy.
‘Hanging by a Wire’ revisits the August 2023 cable car emergency in Battagram, northern Pakistan, in which eight passengers, including six schoolboys on their way to school, were left suspended around 900 feet above a ravine after a cable snapped.
The rescue operation captured the attention of people across Pakistan and internationally, as authorities and local rescuers worked to bring those trapped to safety.
The documentary debuted at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, in the World Cinema Documentary Competition lineup, before going on to play at the Tribeca Festival.
The 99th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, hosted by Conan O’Brien.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan has submitted 13 films in the category since 1959 without a nomination, with Saim Sadiq’s Joyland marking its only shortlist appearance in 2022.