A girl’s quest to learn in a world of superstition
In rural Pakistan, a precocious ten-year-old girl named Rabia discovers that her school has mysteriously closed. Rumours of a haunting spread, and villagers claim that her teacher has become possessed by a spirit. But when Rabia embarks on a quest for answers, defying both fear and convention, her search turns into a haunting fable where superstition and corruption collide.
Drawing on the real phenomenon of Pakistan’s “ghost schools,” Seemab Gul’s exceptional debut feature blends social critique with elements of magical realism to forge a sharp, lyrical reflection on class, power, and belief—and the steady defiance of a young girl’s calm but unyielding desire for truth.
“Ghost School is a powerful, clarion call to continue questioning and actively challenge situations that harm our communities and ourselves.”
Emma Badame AFWJ.org 15/09/2025
Toronto - TIFF 2025, 2025, ca
Berlinale Generation Kplus, Berlin International Film Festival, 2026, de
Seemab GUL
Seemab Gul is an independent British-Pakistani writer, director, and producer whose work explores outsider experiences and political themes. An alumna of the London Film School, Locarno Open Doors, Berlinale Talents, and Venice Biennale College, Gul is known for the short film Sandstorm (2021), which won 20 festival awards. In 2024, she founded the Pakistan-based production company Cinelava to champion arthouse cinema.
