Filmmaker and first-time Oscar nominee Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won Academy Award on 26 February 2012 for her documentary “Saving Face” which is about acid attack victims, a first for a Pakistani director.
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. The category of Best Documentary (Short) was presented by Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy to Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Daniel Junge. This marks both Sharmeen and Daniel’s first ever Oscar award.
Chinoy dedicated this award to the women of Pakistan. The women’s “bravery and resilience in the face of adversity inspires me every single day,” she said. “They are the true heroes of Pakistan.” She also declared: “It is a story of hope with a powerful message for the Pakistani audience. I felt this would be a great way to show how Pakistanis can help other Pakistanis overcome their problems.”
Saving Face is based on violence against women‚ particularly acid throwing on them narrated by survivors through their personal endurance‚ recovery and reconciliation. It is also a story about women’s struggle for justice in Pakistan as it is about their recovery and unwavering strength in overcoming difficult circumstances.
Last year, the Pakistani government introduced legislation – the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill – which calls for those convicted of acid attacks receiving sentences of 14 years in prison up to life, as well as a fine of one million Pakistani Rupees (about $11,000).
NIMRAH AMJAD
Karachi
