Pakistani silent film Khazana (Treasure) has won three awards at the fourth edition of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture Film Festival (IVSFF), receiving recognition for Best Film, Best Editing and Best Sound Design. The awards were announced by the film’s team following the festival’s ceremony in Karachi, where Khazana also held its Pakistani premiere at the institution. The film won Best Film, while Usman Noor received the award for Best Editing and Nathan Ruyle was recognised for Best Sound Design. The achievement marks a local milestone for the production, which has already screened at more than 15 international film festivals. Its recognition across three categories highlights the contribution of editing and sound design to a film that relies on visual storytelling rather than spoken dialogue.
The award for Best Editing recognised Usman Noor’s work in shaping the film’s pacing, visual continuity and narrative rhythm. In a silent film, editing plays a particularly important role because the sequence and duration of shots must communicate character, emotion and story without conventional dialogue. The arrangement of images, transitions and pauses can influence how viewers interpret events and connect with the characters. Khazana’s recognition in this category draws attention to the technical and creative decisions involved in telling a story primarily through visuals. The Best Film award also recognises the combined work of the production team, whose contributions helped bring the project from development and filming to international screenings and its premiere in Pakistan.
Sound design was another key part of the film’s award-winning production. Nathan Ruyle and the team at This is Sound Design Studios received recognition for creating the film’s soundscape, while production sound mixer Ashar Khalid was credited by the filmmakers for the work carried out on set. Although Khazana is a silent film, its sound design helps establish atmosphere and gives texture to the visual world presented on screen. The absence of spoken dialogue places greater emphasis on other audio elements, including environmental sounds, carefully constructed effects and the relationship between sound and image. The production team described the collaboration between on-set sound recording and post-production design as an important part of the final result. The award highlights how sound can contribute to storytelling even when dialogue is absent.
Khazana’s Pakistani premiere at IVSFF was particularly meaningful for its team because the event took place at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, the alma mater of a member of the film’s creative team. After travelling internationally and screening at more than 15 film festivals, the film returned to Pakistan for a local audience and received three awards at the event. The team has also highlighted its next appearance at the 21st Tasveer Film Festival, extending the film’s festival journey. The recognition at IVSFF provides further visibility for the project and its contributors, while demonstrating the role of film festivals in showcasing Pakistani creative work. The film’s continued participation in international events may introduce it to new audiences and provide further opportunities for its filmmakers and technical crew to present their work.
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