One of the world’s biggest fashion fairs will have a twist of something sweet and desi this year. The Germans have invited the big wigs of the Pakistani fashion industry to grace the event with their talent and skills. Big players such as Karma, Asifa, Nikki of Nikki and Nina, Naila H Maqbool, Ammar Belal, Maria B and others are expected to participate in the fair. Towards the end of July, Dusseldorf will serve as a platform for our leading designers to parade their creations to represent the true culture of Pakistan. It seems that the world is eager to see our hot couture and we think it’s quite amazing. So, all we can say is… Way to go people!

The Goethe Institute will screen seven feature films on its newly opened premises over a month. The film festival will begin on Thursday. The movies will be screened on Thursdays and Mondays at 7pm.

According to a brochure issued by the German cultural centre, the first film to be screened is titled Halbe Treppe (Grill point). Directed by Andreas Dresen, the movie focuses on estrangement and betrayal between two couples in East Germany.

Chicago led the Academy Awards with six trophies, including best picture, at a ceremony Sunday that allowed Hollywood to exalt itself while muting the Oscar pageantry because of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

The Academy Awards ceremony took place on Sunday allowed Hollywood to exalt itself while muting the Oscar pageantry because of the U.S.-led war on Iraq, was taken away by the Chicago who led the Academy Awards with six trophies, including best picture.

The razzle-dazzle satire Chicago became the first musical since 1968’s Oliver! to win the top Oscar. The other awards were given to Catherine Zeta-Jones for best supporting actress, and four technical honors including costume design and art direction.

The Rafi Peer Theatre’s 10-day world performing arts festival, 2004, is being held at the Alhamra Cultural Complex from Nov 27.

As many as 600 artistes of over 33 countries, including India, will perform in various disciplines of performing arts like dance, theatre, music and puppetry.

Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi will inaugurate the festival. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will attend its premier show on Nov 26, a day ahead of its formal launch.

Rafi Peer Theatre directors Faizan Peerzada and Usman Peerzada told newsmen here at the Lahore Press Club on Friday that it was one of the biggest festivals in South Asia.

Pakistan’s Sabiha Sumar won the top prize at Switzerland’s principal film festival(6-16 August) with her story of a woman whose son becomes an extremist.

The jury awarded the Golden Leopard to “Khamosh Pani” (”Silent Waters”), about the relationship between a widow and her son as the young man veers into religious extremism after in 1979. The film also won the festival’s Ecumenical Prize.