In the fifth edition of their distinguished video storytelling competition, It Happens Only In Pakistan, Dawn.com and Deutsche Welle (DW) held a celebration of Pakistan's culture and music.

The three winning films take home prize money worth Rs600,000, Rs350,000, and Rs250,000, respectively.

First Prize: Khanabadosh

A film by Khurram Ali, Seher Ali, Hamza Shahid and Ali Sahil.

The snake holds a none too esteemed position in Pakistan's culture — a symbol of fear and death — yet it also elicits a curious fascination with people entranced by the sway of its hypnotic dance.

Khanabadosh offers a glimpse at this duality by showcasing the lives of nomadic snake charmers, those whose lives are intermixed with that of the serpent and its deadly venom as they enchant people with performances which offer both culture and music.

First prize for Khurram Ali and his team represents a full circle moment — much like Ouroboros, the legendary serpent — as their film Rowdy was an honourable mention in It Happens Only In Pakistan 2021.

"It spoke to me in a very personal way," said Sarmad Khoosat, a renowned filmmaker and a member of the special jury for the It Happens Only In Pakistan video storytelling competition, about the film, adding that it had an "old world charm" which helped him reconnect with his past.

Meanwhile, Lukas Arnold, Head of DW Premium Library, Content for Distribution DW, also a member of the special jury for the It Happens Only In Pakistan video storytelling competition, was all praise for how the film's technical aspects captured the majesty of its subjects.

"The vastness and beauty of the land through which the wanderer travels are really brought out by the aerial shots," he said.

Second Prize: Blind Music Teacher

A film by Abdul Basit and Junaid Mukhtar from Last Myle Films.

One of the most elemental aspects of culture worldwide, inseparable and forever bound together with it, for any culture without it is devoid of life and vibrancy: music.

The Blind Music Teacher is an ode to two individuals, Nizamuddin and Tauqeer Hussain, whose strength and ruggedness of spirit match the mountains around them and their tunes echo in the valleys of their Hunza homeland.

The film captures the tenacious and determined spirit of Pakistanis in the face of disadvantageous odds as these two individuals did not let their visual impairment hamper their lives or their dreams of their craft inspiring students to perform on the world stage.

Khoosat agreed, saying it was a very "honest feel-good piece of storytelling" which did not resort to melodrama or rely on its "decorative shots" of the region as a crutch.

Arnold, meanwhile, highlighted the film's depth despite its brevity, saying it was "a beautiful example of how dynamic video editing can tell almost the whole story of two blind musicians in just a few minutes."

Third Prize: Sikandar Sanam

A film by M. Rafiq, Abdul Nafees, Muhammad Ayoub and Mehran Ali Shah.

For all the glories that we sing about culture, we forget (or ignore?) its darker underbelly and Pakistan is no different, often at odds with its own cultural elements which date back centuries.

Sikandar Sanam, named after the focus of the film itself, is a stark yet ultimately hopeful and uplifting look at how culture can reject some individuals, yet, ultimately be compelled into accepting and owning them through the force of their will and passion.

This film highlights an individual, a dancer and choreographer, who chose to not back down, despite his own family being among the naysayers, and blazed his own path to becoming a respected and acknowledged figure in his community.

Arnold echoed similar sentiments with his review, saying that "coupled with a sensitive camera and a knack for finding the right subject, this film addresses the importance of standing up for one's convictions and equal rights in society."

Khoosat pointed out the film made a "very important comment in an intimate and personal way" on gender norms and conventions, adding that many people should see it, "especially those who want to have a subtle conversation on gender".

Two outstanding films were recognised as honourable mentions; each won Rs150,000 in prize money.

Honourable Mention: Roshan

A film by Altamash Sultan.

It is no exaggeration to say that Pakistan has an education crisis. Last month, Unicef said schools for more than two million children remained inaccessible as the floods destroyed 27,000 schools.

Roshan is a heroic tribute to a man who, despite the harsh conditions around him or no government aid, strives to be the light to rescue children from the darkness of illiteracy. He crosses the hot desert with a single unyielding goal, to bring education to children in villages with no schools to speak of.

He does this not for his own sake, but for the children's future and that of the country in what is the epitome of altruism and patriotism. If there's one thing to say about Pakistani culture, it is about giving and charity when the hour calls and Roshan is a shining example of that.

Khoosat had high praise for Roshan's cinematography, saying it captured the "melancholy and vastness of the landscape which has such an impact".

Arnold, however, had a different, if no less laudatory, take on the film. "Even if the production value of Roshan might seem simple, the story is touching and is told in a pace that corresponds to the life of a simple man who, however, does everything to improve the living conditions of the children close to him," he concluded.

Honourable Mention: Mangarhaar

A film by Maryam Qureshi, Asaad Bin Ajmal.

Our second honourable mention is a bitter yet necessary examination of how the forces of technology and modernity impact and change culture and music — in this case by hastening the potential demise of a once ubiquitous art form.

Gul Muhammad and his group are a diminishing breed of dhol walas (timpanists) who continue to maintain pride in their ancestral and legacy art form, yet, express apprehension about its future as their progeny opt for greener pastures.

The film is essentially a time capsule, demonstrating how culture and music transition in the face of new challenges or fade out eventually to become a part of history.

Arnold noted the importance of this aspect of the film in his review. "Mangarhaar succeeds in changing perspectives and putting itself in the shoes of an older generation, which is so important in these times when tradition and the present collide."

Meanwhile, Khoosat said in his review that the tale was "told in such a heartwarming yet raw manner that the message resonates with your heart without exploiting emotions."

It Happens Only In Pakistan is a nationwide video story and photo essay contest organised by Dawn.com and Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany's international broadcaster.

In celebration of 5 years of the storytelling competition, this year's edition invited people to explore Pakistan and celebrate the best of its culture and music.

Winners may also get a chance to work with DW Urdu on future video projects. Additionally, Winners and Finalists may be approached for partnership/collaboration with Dawn Prism.

The contest accepted entries from October 7 to November 18, 2022.