A global citizen, Iram is an award-winning empathic creator excited to tell thought-provoking stories that are socially impactful and envision an inclusive world. Bilal has quickly become a voice to reckon with in the Muslim community and on the World Cinema stage. Invested in “raising while rising”, her past films have led to measurable shifts in causes they championed. She has not only formed initiatives to uplift her community in film and tech but has also championed causes that are traditionally unpopular to support. Bilal initiated the formation of the Pakistani Oscar committee and is the founder of QALAMBAAZ, Pakistan's first professional screenwriting lab, now in year ten. Iram is also an active mentor for women in film and tech. Spotlighted as 1 of 8 directors to watch by the Alliance of Women Directors, a board member of the Film Fatales, she is also a Film Independent, Watson fellow and multiple time Women in Film awardee. She has been profiled by the New York Times, featured on NPR, BBC, Bloomberg, Filmmaker Magazine among others. She is a proud graduate of Caltech and the USC Peter Stark Program. When she isn't telling stories, she is dancing to Bollywood tunes or nerding out with fellow Caltech engineers. She believes genuine curiosity is the only antidote to fear. Her biggest and boldest work to date, feature film WAKHRI (English Title: One of a Kind) just returned from a critically successful nationwide theatrical release in Pakistan and a North American premiere at the prestigious Narrative Spotlight Section at SXSW 2024. 


Films shown in Divvy Film Festival London 2024


Wakhri is about a widowed school teacher in Pakistan who becomes a viral sensation overnight when she accidentally unleashes her unabashed opinions on social media. This newfound fame as an unlikely influencer comes with its own challenges as she has to navigate archaic mindsets and secret identities while raising her ten-year-old son in a world where women's right to have a voice and own their own space, physical or online, is a constant challenge. The film draws inspiration from the bravery of individuals like Qandeel Baloch, Pakistan's first social media celebrity who was strangled to death by her brother for bringing disrepute to the family's honour. Qandeel rose to prominence due to her videos on social networks discussing her rights as a Pakistani woman and various controversial issues which were considered bold and outrageous by the conservative Pakistani community. With Wakhri, we aim to support and encourage all those who aspire to be seen and heard.

Wakhri

Dir: Iram Parveen Bilal

Run time: 1 hr 39 mins.

Production year: 2023

Language: Urdu (with English subtitles)

Countries: Pakistan, United States

Fiction feature