Pakistani Cinema: January 2012

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Akhbar-e-Jehan (23 Jan 2012 to 29 Jan, 2012) - PakistaniCinema

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Obaid-Chinoy on the power of storytelling

She stepped on stage seemingly nervous, but within seconds documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy had the complete attention of her audience.

Speaking for the first time since she was nominated for an Oscar, she shyly admitted that she had not yet grasped what had happened. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out,” she said.

At the International Women Leaders Summit on Wednesday, the journalist and film-maker said what people in Pakistan rarely say; that in some ways, it’s a blessing being a woman in Pakistan. “There are so many liberties that we have on a day-to-day basis in Pakistan. These are luxuries for women in other countries.”

But Pakistan is a country of contradictions, she says. “There are some women who have complete empowerment and others have not been empowered at all.”

Speaking about her experiences in Arab countries, she said she had to get a certificate on morality when filming in Saudi Arabia. “I was the first journalist allowed to document the women’s rights movement in Saudi Arabia.” While filming for her documentary Women of the Holy Kingdom, Obaid-Chinoy spent four weeks in the country and said it was one exasperating process. “I was almost arrested once while filming for ‘attracting male attention’,” she said. “It’s times like these that you thank God that you are from Pakistan.”

After filming in Canada, Syria, Pakistan and East Timor, Obaid-Chinoy says, “Women around the world have the same issues.”

Obaid-Chinoy was nominated for an Oscar in the category for Best Documentary, Short Subject on Tuesday for her film Saving Face. In 2010, she received an Emmy award for her documentary Pakistan: Children of the Taliban.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2012.

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

First Pakistani documentary-maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy earns Oscar nomination

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the renowned journalist and documentary maker, has become first Pakistani to earn an Oscar nomination with her film ‘Saving face’, which was named in the “Documentary-short film” category.

Obaid, who has documented numerous short films, won an Emmy award, back in 2010, for her documentary, ‘Pakistan Children of the Taliban’.

Commenting about this unique achievement, she observed, “I am speechless. It has reaffirmed my belief. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, if you put quality work out there, it will be appreciated. I hope I can make Pakistan proud by bringing home an Oscar.”

The documentary, ‘Saving Face’ is the story of two women from South Punjab who became victims of acid violence.

“It’s a positive story about Pakistan on two accounts: firstly, it portrays how a Pakistani-British doctor comes to treat them and it also discusses, in great depth, the parliament’s decision to pass a bill on acid violence,” she had commented when her documentary was short-listed for nominations, back in October 2011.

According to the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill, the perpetrators of acid violence will be punished with imprisonment for life, and Obaid-Chinoy has captured that aspect in her latest project.

The documentary accounts the work of an acclaimed Pakistani-origin British plastic surgeon, Dr Muhammad Jawad, as he travels to Pakistan and performs reconstructive surgery on survivors of acid victims.

Acid violence, an extreme form of physical cruelty, is systemically describe in Pakistan; official statistics state that a hundred cases of acid violence are reported annually, though it is anticipated that the real figure is far bigger.

Due to structural inequalities, the women face immense difficulties to access the judicial system in addition to hoary cultural practices.

‘Saving Face’ is shot across twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and the small towns of Punjab. It will be on-aired in the US on March 8, at HBO, while it is due to release in the UK later that month, on selected cinemas, following which it will be released in Pakistan.

She is very brave and chooses stories that touch the heart and turns them into movies that break it. She covered many stories ranging from ranging from child abuse, violence against women, terrorism and natural disasters.

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Monday, 23 January 2012

Wedding bells: Meera taking the plunge?

Lollywood actor Meera has announced that she is marrying a Pakistani-American airline captain Naveed Shehzad, Express News reported on Sunday.

“Shehzad is a family friend. My parents met his family a few times while in the US. They want me to settle soon and I’ll go with whatever their decision is regarding my future husband,” said Meera.

According to sources the actor, who recently adopted two baby deer in order to raise awareness about animal rights, is likely to get engaged to Shehzad on February 19 in Lahore. “Although I’m busy with various projects at the moment, but if our families insist, we will get engaged,” Meera said.

Meanwhile, Times of India quoted a source as saying, “Just because Meera wants to settle down doesn’t mean that she will give up acting”. The source also added that the actor will invite her friends from India to the wedding.

This is the second big wedding in the film industry in recent months with Lollywood diva and veteran actor-turned-director Reema Khan tying the knot with US-based Pakistani cardiologist Dr Tariq Shahab on November 19, 2011. The nikah took place at a court in Virginia, during which the actor wore a green outfit designed by Hassan Sheheryar Yasin. While talking to the media, Reema had advised girls to follow her example and abide by their parents’ decision concerning marriage.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2012.

Sunday, 22 January 2012

Family Magazine (January 15 to January 21, 2012) - PakistaniCinema

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Wednesday, 18 January 2012

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Hosh Yaar | A Telefilm

Description :

Hosh Yaar is about a story of a girl who came to city for further studies. How she met these three characters and what happened after that is a comedy story with very positive attire.

(One of the most interesting fact about this Telefilm is that it is made by youngest team ever. which includes script to direction, sound to cinematography and production. The average age of this team is only 22 years only.)

Schedule :

Has to be decided

Starring :

Neelam Muneer, Danish Nawaz, Ali Safina, Shahnaz Parvez, Faraz Farooqui, Tanveer Sadiq, Saqib Sheikh, Irfan Motiwala, Anum Fayyaz, Naina Rasheed.

Directed By :

Rao Ayaz Shahzad & Abdul Rehman

Hosh Yaar on Facebook :

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hosh-Yaar/334242349934241

Hosh Yaar (Stills | Behind the Scenes)