They are ready to face the world

On February 27 2012 as the name of the winner for the Academy Award for Documentary mdash Short Subject was announced the worldrsquos attention fell on the Saraiki belt of Punjab in Pakistan Itrsquos where most of the case studies for Sharmeen ObaidChinoy and Daniel Jungersquos Oscar awardwinning documentary Saving Face were concentrated Their stories acted as timely reminders of the suffering and survival endured by forgotten scarred faces mdash mentally and physically Thankfully life is looking up once more for these reallife heroines Next week ObaidChinoy who has documented numerous human causes from across the globe will be in Mumbai for the India premiere of Saving Face What has been the response to Saving Face after the Oscar When news of the Oscar broke out in Pakistan the response was incredible Acid violence became a national issue and received unprecedented coverage in the media thereby prompting a national dialogue about the issue I received countless emails from individuals and organisations who wanted to get involved and do their part in spreading awareness and prompting social change It was heartening to see such a positive response Irsquom glad Saving Face helped shed light on this issue and hope that these changes gather momentum over time What were some of your biggest hurdles while filming especially at the ground level Were the survivors ready to speak openly Saving Face was filmed in the Saraiki belt of Punjab where acid attacks in Pakistan are concentrated Low literacy levels and high unemployment rates are responsible for a very backward mindset characterise this densely populated region This mindset was our biggest hurdle as people were wary of us However after spending sufficient time in the region and after establishing relations with the acid survivors we found some brave women who wanted to step up They were ready to step out of the norm if it meant the awareness generated could save other women from the devastating crime they had suffered Aboveu00a0two Stills from the film Saving Face Yoursquove had several firsts against your name including being the first nonAmerican to be awarded the Livingston Award for best international reporting What goes through your mind each time you are reminded of such feats I feel honoured and grateful for having received such acclaim These achievements are a reminder of my firm belief that if you work hard and strive for success you will see the results of your work and you will be acknowledged The support that the Oscar generated for the effort to combat acid violence is a reward in its own right and it has motivated me to continue to produce quality work Filmmaker Sharmeen ObaidChinoy What drives you toward stepping into unknown territory while filming your documentaries It is the cause that motivates me I am driven to document the conditions of marginalised societies regardless of geography so that the world may learn about them My work is geared towards creating awareness about issues to facilitate critical discourse and get the ball rolling towards social change Have you ever toyed with the idea of collaborating with an Indian director or working on an Indiacentric cause Given the central role played by India in Pakistanrsquos historical narrative I would love to collaborate with Indian filmmakers We both stand to learn from each other because our cultures are so similar Although it is difficult to coordinate such an initiative due to stringent restrictions imposed by the government I admire the Indian art scene and would love to collaborate with an Indian director or focus on an Indiacentric cause In April you were named by Time magazine as among the 100 most influential people of the world How does the honour feel It reminds me of the bigger picture mdash I see myself as a storyteller This year I was lucky enough to tell a story that struck a chord with audiences and helped promote a cause The past year has reinvigorated my faith and dedication to the art of story telling In the larger scheme of things that is all that matters After having documented human rights issues from Syria to Indonesia and beyond whatrsquos next I want to shed light on the polio epidemic in Pakistan It is a devastating issue which can be carefully eradicated if sufficient resources are plugged into the cause How and why did you start The Citizens Archive of Pakistan I started Citizens Archive of Pakistan an ongoing initiative in 2007 because there was a dire need to archive Pakistani history and to preserve its culture We are lucky enough to still have the first generation of Pakistanis in our presence and it is important for us to preserve their traditions and document their struggles CAP has collected the oral histories of over 1200 people and has an extensive archive of print and photography We are currently leading school outreach tours the focus of which is to develop the quality of education in the classrooms of underprivileged children The organisation has been able to branch out into three major cities and has witnessed tremendous success through annual exhibitions CAP has established itself as a cultural institution and stands to grow further in the future As a citizen of the world and for having championed and projected numerous causes how do you move on to the next issue or cause How tough is it to approach each of them in isolation The plight of marginalised societies pushes me to help bring their conditions to a global platform While it is difficult and often emotionally challenging to work with such subjects the courage and resilience that so many of them have shown in the face of unimaginable circumstances is inspirational Working with them on a personal level is a constant reminder of the need for social change and pushes me to do my best After the film screening Sharmeen ObaidChinoy will be joined in conversation with filmmaker Kiran Rao in Mumbai on Tuesday July 24 630pm Registration begins at 6 pm at the venue Experimental Theatre National Centre for the Performing Arts Nariman Point Mumbaiu00a0