Pakistan celebrates first ever Oscar win

Islamabad: Pakistan today celebrated the Oscar won by filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy for her documentary `Saving Face`, with the government announcing that a high civilian honour would be bestowed on her for winning the first Academy Award for the country.

Chinoy and her co-director Daniel Juge won the Academy Award in the best short subject documentary category for their film that tells the story of British-Pakistani plastic surgeon Mohammad Jawad and his work with women disfigured by acid attacks. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that a high civilian award would be given to Chinoy for winning the Oscar. In a message, he felicitated Chinoy and appreciated her hard work and creativity in highlighting the topic of acid attacks on women. "Artists could act as a catalyst in bringing positive change in society," Gilani said. President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated the filmmaker for highlighting a sensitive topic and for sending a message to the world about "Pakistan`s softer image". The 52-minute documentary follows Jawad`s journey to his homeland to help victims of acid burns and two women as they fight to bring the men who attacked them to justice. In her acceptance speech, Chinoy dedicated the Oscar to "all the heroes working on the ground in Pakistan". Chinoy`s mother Saba Obaid described her daughter`s achievement as a moment of pride for the whole country. Talking to the media, Obaid said she hoped `Saving Face` would bring about a positive change in Pakistan. She also hoped the film would help end crimes against women in the country. `Saving Face` was filmed in Pakistan? primarily in the Saraiki belt of Punjab province, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Chinoy`s career in documentary filmmaking began when she examined the plight of Afghan refugee children in Pakistan. She decided to return to Pakistan from the US and make a film about them. PTI