Hanging by a Wire Becomes Pakistan's First Documentary Pick for the Oscars

Hanging by a Wire is Pakistan's first-ever documentary Oscar submission, telling the true story of eight people trapped 900 feet in the air.

The announcement came in early October 2026.

Pakistan's Academy Selection Committee chose the film as the country's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.

It is a historic moment for the nation.

No documentary has ever represented Pakistan in this category before.

The news was confirmed by leading entertainment outlets, with Variety reporting the selection as a landmark for Pakistani cinema.

A Historic First for Pakistan at the 99th Academy Awards

The decision was announced by the committee's deputy chairperson, Sana Zahra Jafri.

She described the selection as a historic milestone for Pakistani documentary filmmaking.

Her words carry weight.

Pakistan first submitted a film for the Oscars back in 1959.

Since then, the country has put forward 13 films in the international feature category. Not one has secured a nomination so far.

The closest Pakistan ever came was in 2022. Saim Sadiq's Joyland made the Oscars shortlist that year and gave the country hope.

Now Hanging by a Wire carries the nation's hopes into the 99th Academy Awards race.

The choice is bold.

It breaks a decades-old pattern of sending only fiction films. It tells the world that Pakistan's true stories deserve the biggest stage.

The Battagram Cable Car Rescue That Shocked the World

The film revisits the August 2023 cable car emergency in Battagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Eight people boarded a locally operated cable car that morning. Six of them were schoolchildren on their way to class.

Then a cable snapped.

The car was left dangling around 900 feet above a ravine. Below them flowed the Jhangri River.

For these children, the cable car was the only way to school. There were no roads or bridges connecting the two sides of the river.

What followed gripped the entire nation.

News channels carried the story live for hours. Millions watched and prayed.

Rescue teams rushed to the difficult mountain terrain. The whole operation lasted nearly 12 hours.

An initial helicopter attempt managed to lift two children to safety. The remaining passengers were brought down one by one with the help of zipline experts.

Local heroes emerged that day.

Cable car repairman Sahib Khan joined the effort. He is known locally as a "sky pirate" for his daring aerial exploits.

Ali Swati also stepped in. He had access to high-quality zipline equipment that proved critical.

District police chief Sonia Shamroz oversaw the mission from the ground.

By late night, all eight passengers were safe. The country exhaled together.

Director Mohammed Ali Naqvi has described his film in striking terms. "It's a straight-up disaster film, except it really happened," he said.

He added that the local community filmed much of the incident themselves. They trusted him with that footage.

"In a real sense they co-authored this film with me," Naqvi said.

The film was written and produced by Naqvi together with Bilal Sami. It blends eyewitness footage, survivor testimony and cinematic reconstructions featuring the real people involved in the rescue.

From Sundance to Paramount+: Hanging by a Wire's Journey So Far

Hanging by a Wire premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

It screened in the prestigious World Cinema Documentary Competition.

That premiere gave the film instant credibility on the global circuit.

From Sundance, it travelled to the Tribeca Festival in mid-2026. It also screened at the Seattle and Sydney film festivals.

Critics and audiences responded strongly at each stop.

The film is a co-production of Pakistan, the United States and the United Kingdom. Production companies include EverWonder Studio, Mindhouse Productions, Universal Pictures Content Group and 64th Street Media.

Abramorama is handling the US theatrical release. Dogwoof holds the UK theatrical distribution rights.

And soon, the world can watch it at home.

The film begins streaming on Paramount+ on October 28. That release will put the Battagram story in front of millions of viewers worldwide.

Naqvi himself is no stranger to acclaim. He is a Television Academy Honour recipient and a four-time Emmy nominee.

His track record gave the project weight from day one. As Geo News noted, the selection is a matter of immense pride for the filmmaker and the country.

What This Oscar Entry Means for Pakistani Cinema

This selection is bigger than one film.

It signals that Pakistani nonfiction storytelling can compete on the world stage.

Documentaries from Pakistan have won international praise before. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's two Oscar wins proved that.

But the Academy's International Feature category has always gone to fiction films from Pakistan. That barrier is now broken.

The entry also puts a spotlight on northern Pakistan. The Battagram story is one of resilience, resourcefulness and community courage.

It shows a Pakistan the world rarely sees. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

For young Pakistani filmmakers, the message is clear. Real stories from home can travel the world.

The road ahead will not be easy.

The Oscar race for international features is fiercely competitive. Dozens of countries submit their best films each year.

The film must first make the shortlist. Then it must secure one of the final nomination slots.

Whether Hanging by a Wire goes all the way remains to be seen.

But Pakistan has already made history simply by choosing it. As The Express Tribune reported, this is the first time the country has picked a documentary for the race.

That alone is worth celebrating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hanging by a Wire about?

Hanging by a Wire is a documentary thriller about the August 2023 Battagram cable car emergency. Eight people, including six schoolchildren, were trapped about 900 feet above a ravine for nearly 12 hours after a cable snapped. The film follows the dramatic rescue operation that brought every one of them home safely.

Why is Pakistan's Oscar entry historic this year?

It is the first time Pakistan has ever submitted a documentary for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. All 13 of the country's previous submissions since 1959 were fiction films. The Pakistan Academy Selection Committee announced the choice in early October 2026.

Who directed Hanging by a Wire?

The film was directed by Mohammed Ali Naqvi, a Television Academy Honour recipient and four-time Emmy nominee. It was written and produced by Naqvi together with Bilal Sami. The documentary combines real eyewitness footage, survivor testimony and cinematic reconstructions featuring the actual rescue participants.

Where can I watch Hanging by a Wire?

The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and later screened at Tribeca, Seattle and Sydney. It begins streaming on Paramount+ on October 28. A release date for cinemas in Pakistan has not been announced yet, though it is expected later this year.

Has Pakistan ever been nominated for an Oscar?

No. Pakistan has submitted 13 films for Best International Feature Film since 1959 without earning a nomination. The country's best result came in 2022, when Saim Sadiq's Joyland reached the Oscars shortlist. Hanging by a Wire now carries Pakistan's hopes at the 99th Academy Awards.