Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, left, and Daniel Junge pose with their awards for best documentary short for "Saving Face" during the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
A former journalist, Sharmeen walked the red carpet accompanied by co-director Daniel Junge, dedicated the win to the women in Pakistan working for change. In her acceptance speech she added, “Don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you!”
Apart from the critical acclaim the film has been receiving, it has also been very instrumental in passing a law which sentences the convicted to life-imprisonment. In the aftermath of the victory, the team is further striving to capitalize this moment of international media spotlight by announcing a campaign on their website in the hope of creating awareness and helping the victims of the attacks.
Social networking sites poured congratulatory wishes all day, while a delighted Sharmeen returned the compliments with a tweet “Thank u so much 4 all your love & support #Pakistan- v overwhelmed & v grateful to God 4 giving me this opportunity” before signing off for the day with another one “Good night #pakistan everyone after the #oscars came & said good things about my country 2 me! Jinnah would have been proud!”
‘Saving Face’ chronicles the work of acclaimed British-Pakistani plastic surgeon Dr. Mohammad Jawad, who travels around the country to perform reconstructive surgery on the attacked women and help them move on with their lives. Produced by Davis Coombe, Alison Greenberg, Sabiha Sumar, Daniel Junge, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and exec produced by HBO Documentary Films’ Lisa Heller and Sheila Nevins, the film will air in US and Canada on HBO on March 8, 2012. In the UK, it airs in April, but premieres at the Human Rights Film Festival on March 28th in London.
