Home / Arts and Entertainment / 'Hanging by a Wire' Secures Pakistan's Oscar Nod
'Hanging by a Wire' Secures Pakistan's Oscar Nod
2 Oct
Summary
- Documentary 'Hanging by a Wire' is Pakistan's Oscar entry.
- Film details the 2023 Battagram cable car rescue.
- It's the first documentary Pakistan has submitted for an Oscar.
A documentary thriller has made history as Pakistan's submission for the upcoming Academy Awards. "Hanging by a Wire," directed by Mohammed Ali Naqvi, will represent Pakistan in the Best International Feature Film category.
This selection is a significant achievement, as it is the first time a documentary film has been put forward by Pakistan for this Oscar category. The film revisits the dramatic August 2023 cable car incident in Battagram. Eight passengers, including six schoolboys, were left suspended nearly 900 feet above a ravine after a cable snapped during their commute to school.
The filmmakers utilized witness footage, survivor testimonies, and reenactments involving rescue participants to reconstruct the tense event. "Hanging by a Wire" premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and was also screened at the Tribeca Festival.
Produced by EverWonder Studio, Universal Pictures Content Group, Mindhouse Productions, and 64th Street Media, the film is set for a streaming release on Paramount+ on October 28th. Dogwoof and Abramorama will handle theatrical distribution in the UK and US, respectively. Pakistan has previously submitted 13 films for the award without any nominations, with "Joyland" being its sole film to reach the shortlist.
