Pakistan win first Oscar for film on acid attacks

Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy made her country proud by winning an Oscar for her documentary film \\\’Saving Face\\\’.

 

\\\’Saving Face\\\’ is a short documentary film about acid attacks on women and people who help them recover from the mental and physical injuries.

 

She accepted the prestigious award along with the co-director Daniel Junge in the category of Best Documentary (short).

 

Chinoy dedicated the award to the courageous women of Pakistan working for change.

 

"All the women in Pakistan working for change, don\\\’t give up on your dreams, this is for you," she said.

 

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."

 

It was first time in the history that a Pakistani documentary was nominated and subsequently won the award too.

 

\\\’Saving Face\\\’ chronicles the work of British Pakistani plastic surgeon Mohammad Jawad, who made several trips to Pakistan with his surgical teams and performed reconstructive surgery on survivors of acid attacks here.

 

The central characters of this film are two women, Zakia and Rukhsana, who survived acid attacks and have been fighting for justice since then.

 

Chinoy said these acid survivors want to bring attention to this form of assault.

 

"The main reason that they are in \\\’Saving Face\\\’ is to make their stories heard and have an impact," she added.

 

Over 100 people, mostly women and girls, are subjected to acid attacks every year in Pakistan, although groups helping survivors say many more cases go unreported.

 

\\\’Saving Face\\\’ getting an Oscar sends a message to all the bravehearts across the globe that hard work pays off and your sincere fight against injustice and commitment to work for change can take you places.