The Ghost School film will not be screened in Sindh after the Sindh Board of Film Censors refused to issue a censor certificate. The movie has already won awards and received recognition at several major international film festivals.
The film was written, directed, and produced by British-Pakistani filmmaker Seemab Gul. This film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it was nominated for Best Film. Later, it was screened at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.
The Ghost School film tells the story of 10-year-old Rabia. Rabia dreams of getting an education, but her village school is shut down after rumors spread that the building is haunted. In reality, the story shows how false excuses and local interests can prevent children, especially girls, from going to school.
The movie was filmed in Chashma Goth and another village on the outskirts of Karachi. It draws attention to the serious issue of ghost schools in Sindh. There are around 15,000 ghost schools across the province.
Director Seemab Gul said she was not given a reason for the decision to withhold the censor certificate. However, a provincial minister stated that the censor board must have had a valid reason for its decision.
The Ghost School film has started an important conversation about girls’ education. The film continues to receive international recognition for highlighting an important social issue.