Director Bilal Lashari's action/thriller Waar took home 13 awards at the ARY Film Awards 2014 held in Karachi on a balmy Sunday night.

Celebrities, fans and film crews sweated it out at the 'first ever' Pakistani film awards held out in the open at the DHA Golf Club. The show started an expected two hours late, but sufficiently wowed the audience with what was slated to be the most expensive award show ever held in Pakistan, at a cost of Rs80 million.

With roughly 1,500-2,000 attendees and a 200-foot stage, the awards show celebrated the rebirth of Pakistani cinema with song, dance and cheesy dialogue complete with jibes at India, lauding of the two nation theory and discussions on the lengths of skirts.

Waar came out on top, bagging multiple awards in the technical category, as well as jury's choice best director (Bilal Lashari) and viewer's choice best male supporting actor (Hamza Ali Abbasi). It also featured in best female supporting actor (Meesha Shafi), best villain (Shamoon Abbasi) and the all-important best film, among others.

Just behind with seven awards was Pakistan's 'first' sport film, Mein Houn Shahid Afridi, which bagged three technical awards as well as jury's choice best male actor (Humayun Saeed) and viewer's choice best male debut (Hamza Ali Abbasi). The film also managed to bag awards for best music (Shani & Kami) and best male comic role (Ismail Tara).

Zinda Bhaag earned five awards, including the coveted jury's choice best film award and best female actor (Amna Ilyas — who also captivated the audience with a stunning dance performance), among others from viewer's choice.

A full list of awards and winners is below.

Technical awards

Best action — Dr Hasan Waqas Rana | Waar

Best background music score — Sahir Ali Bhagga | Zinda Bhaag

Best choreography — Main Hoon Shahid Afridi

Best cinematography — Bilal Lashari | Waar

Best dialogue — Vasay Chaudhry | Main Hoon Shahid Afridi

Best editing — Bilal Lashari | Waar

Best story — Zinda Bhaag

Best screenplay — Usman Khalid Butt | Siyaah

Best special effects — Waar

Best makeup — Nabila | Main Hoon Shahid Afridi

Best costume design — Sara Gandapur | Chambaili

Jury's choice

Best film — Zinda Bhaag

Best male actor — Humayun Saeed | Main Hoon Shahid Afridi

Best female actor — Amna Ilyas | Zinda Bhaag

Best director — Bilal Lashari | Waar

Special award for contributions to Pakistan Cinema — Ali Zafar

Lifetime achievement award — Nadeem Baig

Viewer's choice

Best film — Waar

Best male actor — Shaan | Waar

Best female actor — Aisha Khan | Waar

Best director — Bilal Lashari | Waar

Best music — Mein Hun Shahid Afridi

Best male comic role — Ismail Tara | Main Hoon Shahid Afridi

Best male debut — Hamza Ali Abbasi | Main Hoon Shahid Afridi

Best female debut — Aisha Khan | Waar

Best performance in negative role — Shamoon Abbasi | Waar

Best female supporting actor — Meesha Shafi | Waar

Best male supporting actor — Hamza Ali Abbasi | Waar

Best male singer — Rahat Fateh Ali Khan | Zinda Bhaag

Best female singer — Abida Parveen | Ishq Khuda

Best independent film — Josh

Curated moments from AFA14