With Saving Face, a short documentary about acid attacks on women and those who help them recover, Pakistani director, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has won her country’s first ever Oscar.
According to The Aurat Foundation, a local nonprofit organisation,
the acid attacks are often carried out by angry husbands or spurned lovers.
In 2010, at least 8,000 acid attacks, forced marriages and other forms of violence
against women were reported. As these figures were based mostly on media reports,
they could be much higher in reality.
The silver lining to this grim report according to Reuters,
“Pakistan’s parliament recently stiffened the punishment for acid burnings
by passing a landmark set of laws”.
Congratulations, Sharmeen.
Good Work brings Good Results all round.
Referring to her co-director Daniel Junge, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy stated:
“Daniel and I want to dedicate this award to all the heroes working on the ground in Pakistan
including Dr Mohammad Jawad who’s here with us today.
Sharmeen dedicated the award to all women working for change in Pakistan,
urging them to not give up on their dreams.
The Oscar for Documentary Feature went to a Sports Documentary: The Undefeated
A film about a high school American Football Team in Memphis team on a hot streak.
An unexpected winner directed by Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin, the film defeated
Wim Wenders’ dance film Pina and the war documentary Hell and Back Again
including Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky’s film about the West Memphis Three,
Paradise Lost 3 : Purgatory and If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
directed by Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman.
Word is that the film’s producer Harvey Weinstein has reportedly struck
a seven figure deal for remake rights.
Congrats.
Directors Lindsay & Martin.
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