Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy - By ANGELINA JOLIE

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Film maker 

By ANGELINA JOLIE Wednesday, Apr. 18, 2012

Pakistan's first Oscar belongs to a monumental campaign that is changing the legal, social and political fate of survivors of acid-related violence. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's documentary Saving Face brought Pakistan's acid-violence problem to the world stage. Today she is bringing the film's message to towns and villages in Pakistan through an educational-awareness campaign. Her film not only gave her subjects sympathy and understanding but, more important, gave them dignity. The "victims" in Saving Face are some of the strongest, most impressive women you will ever come across. She showed us their scars, and we saw their true beauty.

Obaid-Chinoy, 33, is also shaping the dialogue on Pakistan. Saving Face depicts a Pakistan that is changing — one where ordinary people can stand up and make a difference and where marginalized communities can seek justice. New legislation spearheaded by female parliamentarians will impose stricter sentencing on perpetrators of acid-related violence. This is a huge step forward.

Giving voice to those who cannot be heard, Obaid-Chinoy has made over a dozen award-winning films in more than 10 countries. She celebrates the strength and resilience of those fighting against seemingly insurmountable odds — and winning.

I dare anyone to watch this film and not be moved to tears and inspired into action.

Jolie is an actress and director

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Reference: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112152,00.html

Pakistan wins its first Oscar for ‘Saving Face’

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rvRi6skW-M

 

Pakistan wins its first Oscar ‘Saving Face’

 

‘Saving Face’ produced by Sharmeen Obaid won the Oscar for feature documentary

Published Monday, February 27, 2012

Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy accept the Oscar for the Best Documentary Short Subject for their film "Saving Face" at the 84th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, February 26, 2012. (REUTERS)

The Pakistani documentary ‘Saving Face’ produced by Sharmeen Obaid won the Oscar for feature documentary at the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday.

In the history of Oscars, it was the first time ever that a Pakistani documentary was nominated and won award in 84 years.

Directed by Daniel Junge and produced by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the film follows British plastic surgeon Dr. Mohammad Jawad, who returns to his homeland to help victims of acid burns. The film follows one woman as she fights to see that the perpetrators of the crime are imprisoned for life.

The documentary competed against “God Is the Bigger Elvis,” a Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson film about a mid-century starlet who chose the church over Hollywood; “The Barber of Birmingham,” a Gail Dolgin and Robin Fryday film that follows the life of 85-year-old barber James Armstrong and the legacy of the civil rights movement; James Spione’s war film “Incident in New Baghdad”; and “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom,” a film by Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen that follows survivors of Japan's 2011 earthquake and their struggle to recover from the wave that crushed their homes and lives

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-37201-Sharmeens-Saving-Face-wins-first-Oscar-for-Pakistan

 

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/320268

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/oscars-2012-academy-awards-live-blog-5-pm-est/2012/02/24/gIQAETJ9bR_blog.html?tid=pm_entertainment_pop