LAHORE: Darya Kay Iss Paar, a 30-minute long short film about mental health awareness, won three major awards in the New York City International Film Festival 2021.

The NYCIFF is one of the world`s esteemed film festivals.

A total of 96 films across the globe were accepted for the festival in the first round.

In the final round, Darya Kay Iss Paar got selected in four categories along with four other movies from the USA, Mexico and India.

Along with the Best Narrative Short film award, the film won the best directorand bestlead actress awards.

It won the best film award in narrative short film category.

Its director, Shoaib Sultan, won the best director award while Hiba Aziz got the best lead actress award.

Produced by Nighat Akbar Shah and debutant director Shoaib Sultan, the film highlights painful issues of suicides and depression affecting the lives of young people in region of Chitral due lack of awareness and support.

The story revolves around the life of Gull Zareen who has nothing but alienation in her life.

The aloofness in the air of the mountainous area is adding to more depression in her life.

There is a gradual increase in her mental stress starting from school to the married life. No one is ready to bother about her feelings and thoughts.

Rigid social values and norms further add fuel to the fire. Resultantly, the increasing mental stress compels her to commit suicide.

The story depicts the stereotypicalbehaviour of society towards the mental illness and a rollercoaster ride of strong emotions.

The film`s trailer is available on YouTube. The soundtrack sung by Asfar Hussain will be released at various digital platforms such as YouTube, iTunes, Apple Music, Sawan, Spotify, Amazon, TikTok, Hungama and many others just after Eid.

This short movie has been shortlisted in more than 10 other reputed international film festivals, as well.