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Pakistan’s Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy wins an Oscar
Saving Face directed by Pakistani investigative documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Daniel Junge, received the prestigious Academy Award in the category: Best Documentary (Short) at the 84th Annual Academy Awards®. Here is the acceptance speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rvRi6skW-M&feature=youtu.be
The category of Best Documentary (Short) was presented by Rose Byrne & Melissa McCarthy to Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Daniel Junge. This marks both Sharmeen and Daniel’s first ever Oscar award and was also the first Oscar to be awarded to a Pakistani in the history of the Academy Awards. Upon receiving the award, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy thanked the Heroes of Pakistan , The Academy, her colleagues, cast and crew, fellow nominees, parents, friends and family and said “I am deeply humbled and blown away by the outpouring of support and well wishes that I have received. It is an indescribable feeling and is a dream come true! This is for all the budding filmmakers who think that their work will not be appreciated or recognized; if I can do it, so can you. Today, Pakistan was in the news for all the right reasons and I am thrilled that we are now recognized as artists and story tellers. Zakia, Rukhsana- this one is for you”
The 84th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California and Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony, while Brian Grazer produced it. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy walked the red carpet with her husband Fahad Chinoy wearing a custom made and quintessentially Pakistani outfit by renowned couturier Bunto Kazmi with jewellery exclusively designed for Sharmeen for the occasion by Kiran Aman of Kiran Fine Jewellery. After the main Academy Awards ceremony, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy attended post-Oscar events on which she wore an ensemble by leading fashion designers Sana Safinaz with exclusive jewellery by Sherezad Rahimtoola.
Saving Face chronicles the work of acclaimed British Pakistani plastic surgeon, Dr Mohammad Jawad as he travelled to Pakistan and performed reconstructive surgery on survivors of acid violence. Acid violence, an extreme form of physical abuse, is systemically underreported in Pakistan; official figures state that 150 cases of acid violence are filed every year, though it is estimated that the actual figure is far greater. This is caused in part by structural inequalities that make it difficult for women to access the judicial system in addition to longstanding cultural practices that support gender discrimination. Saving Face is an account of such violence told by survivors through their personal journeys of endurance, recovery and reconciliation. Saving Face is equally a story about the ways in which women continue to struggle for justice in Pakistan as it is about their resilience and unwavering strength in overcoming difficult circumstances. The observational documentary was filmed entirely in Pakistan, primarily in the Seraiki belt in addition to Rawalpindi, Karachi and Islamabad.
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy hopes to screen Saving Face in Pakistan, with special screenings at local schools, colleges, universities and communities in order to spread awareness and promote dialogue within Pakistan.
Renowned for producing hard-hitting, character-driven content, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy continues to set new standards for documentary films that address cultural and political inequality. With a formidable list of awards under her belt including a coveted Emmy Award for her film ‘Pakistan’s Taliban Generation’, this is Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s first ever Oscar award.
Saving Face is set to air on America’s premier television cable network HBO, on March 8, 2012.
Who is Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy?
In 2001 the global view of terrorism and Muslims changed forever – and like the millions of people affected post 9/11, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, an aspiring journalist turned to the medium of visual storytelling, with a decision to work as an investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker. Her vision has been to connect global audiences with the everyday lives of alienated and marginalised communities across the world. To date, Sharmeen’s work has taken her to over ten countries around the world where amongst other things she has had the opportunity to connect with refugees, women’s advocate groups and human rights defenders.
Sharmeen started her career in journalism while enrolled at the prestigious Smith College where she read Economics and Government, while freelancing as a writer for newspapers in the United States and Canada. She later completed her post graduate degrees in International Policy Studies in 2003 and Communication (Journalism) in 2004 from Stanford University.
Her work as an international documentary producer and correspondent progressed in 2002 when she started working at New York Times Television while she was still enrolled at Stanford. Since then, Sharmeen has worked as a producer, director & reporter at Channel 4 (2004-2009), a director & reporter at PBS Frontline World (2004-2009) and at Al Jazeera International (2006-2007). Indeed Sharmeen was one of the first Muslim women to be broadcast on mainstream Western media.
A multi-faceted entrepreneur, Sharmeen started her eponymous film production company Sharmeen Obaid Films in Toronoto in 2006 and recently opened a sister company in Karachi. Sharmeen has produced sixteen critically acclaimed films, all of which have been aired across international channels to global audiences including networks such as CNN, CBC, Channel 4, PBS, Al Jazeera and HBO. Sharmeen is also the co-founder of Pakistan’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to cultural and historic preservation, The Citizen’s Archive of Pakistan and continues to serve as the company’s President and leading cultural preservationist since its founding in 2007. As a senior fellow at TED 2011 international, Sharmeen has also been one of the driving forces behind the locally organised Tedx Karachi events in both 2010 and 2011 where she reached out to iconic personalities such as Imran Khan and Mukhataran Mai, to share their stories of inspiration .
In September 2011 Sharmeen spoke at Google Zeitgeist in Arizona alongside the likes of Ted Kopple & Ariana Huffington. She was also selected as one of eleven rising young leaders from Asia by the Asia Society in 2011. and participated in the Asia Society’s sixth annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit, which was held in New Delhi India in November 2011.
Over her career, Sharmeen has received diverse international and national awards and accolades for her intrepid filmmaking and to this end, she has been the recipient of the esteemed International Emmy Award for her documentary Pakistan’s Taliban Generation (2010) and is still the first non US citizen to have received the coveted Livingston Award for Best International Reporting under the age of 35 in any medium, print and broadcast. She was also the proud recipient of the YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction award for her services in the field of Communication, making documentaries that touch upon the lives of women in extraordinary situations, from the refugee camps of Afghanistan, to the plight of aboriginal women in Western Canada.
Her ongoing projects include: Saving Face, a documentary chronicling the work the work of acclaimed British Pakistani plastic surgeon, Dr Mohammad Jawad as he travels to Pakistan and performs reconstructive surgery on survivors of acid violence.
Pakistani plastic surgeon aiding victims of acid attacks in Pakistan, which she is co-directing with acclaimed international director Daniel Junge. The film will air on HBO on March 8th 2012, Saving Face has won an Academy Award [Oscar] for the Best Documentary, Short Subject as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences; Transgender: Pakistans Open Secret is another more recent film with Sharmeen at the director’s helm – the film was released in the UK in December 2011. The film explores the lives of transsexuals in Pakistan who exist on the fringes of society.
Sharmeen is also producing an animated television series for children in Pakistan for national broadcast which endeavours to explore issues in identity, history and culture in Pakistan.
For more information on Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy Films visit http://sharmeenobaidfilms.com
Filed under: Pakistan · Tags: acid-victims, documentary, Dr Jawad, Oscar, Pakistan, plastic-surgeon, Saving Face, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
20 Responses to "Pakistan’s Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy wins an Oscar"
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Bravo, Sharmeen. For once Pakistan is in the news for the right reasons.
Congratulations to Ms. Chinoy and all Pakistanis.
Regards
Although Americans aren’t the greatest nation on earth, an award, even from the Americans, is still an award. So well done.
Congratulations to Miss Chinoy for her admirable work. Now she mustnot forget get down to the business of getting married to a suitable boy.
Sharmeen we are proud of you. Thanks for being fom Karachi, pakistan.
Best Wishes and Regards
Salute
Afshan, Abid, Amna,Ahmed, Aisha Abid
Chicago suburb
Very well done… Thrilled and proud of you sharmeen
So so happy… Seems like its a WIN for all the Asian women. What you have achieved goes to show that if some women are oppressed in your country then there are also others like you who are highly educated and powerful. Keep it up and hope to see you more on international horizon
From the Men of Pakistan!
Well done Sister…May Allah grant you even more success!
We need to change as Men and Society for the future of our kids and nation!
Congratulation! Heartiest congratulations from India!
Your efforts are sure to also help the cause of many Indian girls who are similarly effected.
All the best for your future ventures.
I do not know why every Indian exults whenever any Pakistani wins a major award.
I do not know if Pakistanis are aware of that.
Minds that are creative, particularly in the arts and music, will not let any violent thoughts in.
Teach music and the arts at every madarsa in Pakistan. LET US fund that, rather than fund F 16s.
Anyone agree with this Indian from UK???
Congratulations for this beautiful lady and for all of you in Pakistan.
DR MISHRA, YORKSHIRE
Sharmeen has taken on a brave subject and has at the same time sent a message of hope for all the victims. It was more than just a personal achievement. Her message now resonates among millions and she has brought so much awareness!
Let us join hands with her to make our society more tolerant and humane.
AbdulRehman Mahmood
FlyHajj.com
Watch my words fellows! This lady,Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy will soon be a trouble maker in the eyes of Mullahs and the ISI. ( see some of her UTube videos available in the public domain)! She won’t stop just making some movies. Soon her new movies will focus on the hypocrisy, intolerance and stupidity of devout co-religionists and the Men-in-Khaki in Pakistan. She has taken the first step in the mine field of Pakistan the writers and artists have to walk through.
Don’t be fooled by her smiling and ‘sso-delicate-womanish’ face. She is a devoted to her cause and like most dedicated women can be tough dealing with her enemies. Wa salaam.
Oops. I forgot to add in my last post. She may even gunning for the frst female Muslim Nobel award receipient tooo. let us wish her the best.
[...] Pakistan’s Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy wins an Oscar [...]
great job!
sharmeen!u are the real face of pakistan.and this is the talent of pakistan.no matter what world think abt us bt we as a pakistani should concentrate on our aims just like mrs.chinnoy.congrates pakistan.
DR MISHRA, YORKSHIRE
i did not found exult in indian media.the ews is almost boycotted.
A Pakistani girl friday winning a marginal Oscar as assistant of a distinguished foreigner is not such a big deal. We are an establishment consisting of bookburners and meritbashers and gravedioggers. All the real credit fior thast Oscar desdervedly goes to the praiseworthy doctor who is doing the noble work and the generous boss of Sharmeen Obaid Chinnoy who engaged her as his paid assistant on a cash ‘N curry basis. All this attention by our Asstablishment only diverts attention from real problems facing a drowning Nation of Pakistan where Law of Rulers (and their chamchas, cha-cha cha’ing) in stead of Rule of Law prevails.
The other day I was coming from Sheikhupura and we crossed a beautiuful bus with the name of _______________, Hajji added to his unworthy name. This guy raped Pakistani (Christian) actress SHABNAM in front of her (Hindu) husband and their innocent/lovely children; ate their food at gunpoint from their refrigerator and now that very nuclear family is emerging as big neo-mians running Bus services and chicken forms.
Any wonder then as to why Bangladesh was separated from presentday Pakistan.
MEIN KOW-EE JHOOTH BOWLAY-YA? MEIN KOE KUFFR TOELAY-AWE??
Today, inshal-LAW I will argue a Writ at the Honourable Lahore High Court: Pir Shanmwhoreisch Ridszvaun Al-Murttaza bin Peer Asghar AliShah versus Mian Sir Nawaz SharrReef and Others, Writ Petition Number 4916/2012 … this bold new tell-tale writ challenges Mian Nawazx SharrReef who sanctioned hunting down of Balochistan’s MIR AIMAL KASI in 1998 by FBI/CIA on a mere phone call (ORDFER IS ORDER) of the Czech-born Secretary of State of the USA, without any extradition procveedings, judicial intervention or any hearing… Nawaz sent all mighty U$$$$A the loyal message that NS was above the law, that our pre-NNJP judiciary, actually meant nothing. He was prompted by Ch Nisar Ali (his wiofe and childtren prefer US citizenship, he obtained grdeen card) … both of them do not tire (my avantgarde writ is burning of Tyres against that kind of chicanery and evil-mongering Double Standards) daily lamenting that Pakistanis are being hANDED OVER AND DISAPPEARING. We are holding NS to account (this should make Elhajj Najam Sethi very proud)
Mir Aimal Kasi wrote to me that he was innocent, but assuming arguendo he was in deeds guilty, he should have been tried and toasted by a firing squad in Pakistan. To this my learned colleague YLH will wholeheartedly agree (Artickles 1 to 10A of the Constitution)
Nawazu even had the First Information Reports frozen and sealed in Dera Ghazi Khan , we have asked that these be opened and investigated to the hilt.
After having MIR AIMAL Kasi BUNDLED OFF TO usa WITHOUT FOLLOWING eMMIGRATION PROCEDURES (deja vu, the same courtesies were liberally extended to that CIA-stud Raymond Davis) … nAWAZ CLAIMED IGNORANCE about the disappearance of Mir Aimal Kasi, nonetheless SIX MONTHS LATER fraudulently (X mischievously) SHIFTED ALL BLAME TO fAROOQ aHMED lEGHARI. Very Sharr Reef-FISGH!
May be I do not type well, but I can tell the truth. Truth Shall Make you (ja) Free, prophesied Saint John 1900+ years ago.
That is perhaps why YLH, a fellow cid and distinguished vakil (justice facilitator), has progressively become my aficionado and fervent fan. I hope he comes to the Court of Justice Omer Ata Bandial Sahib (one of my favourite justices) and hear me tell the Judge (without fear, fabvouritism or fear!!!) that I do not want to argue this epoch writ before him for personal reasons.
Ouch! Ought!! AS far as Nawaz goes, he is go went gone … Gone With The Raiwind!! Chickens will stafrty coming home to roast soon, legally and seminally, at long last.
There is a bit of poet in me… it resents and rebuts QUE SERA SERA…
Oscarize or Ox-arize and the Bap-tize to impose new distant alien Baap on you.
May Allah grant you even more success!
On the occasion of International Women Day, my Poem: Acid Attacks dedicated to Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy “SAVING FACE” a stunning achievement done by her. My poem depicts the voice of women survivors of acid attacks, who are facing countless difficulties in all walks of life.
URL LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPHejARz-r4