SHARMEEN OBAID CHINOY CELEBRATES THE 10 PATAKHA FILMMAKERS

Two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy celebrated the successful conclusion of the fourth iteration of Pakistan’s largest filmmaking grant and mentorship programme Patakha Pictures, “Her Earth Advocates,” featuring ten filmmakers from across Pakistan.

This seven-month programme, “Her Earth Advocates,” which started in April 2024, focused on the central themes of climate change and women’s empowerment in Pakistan, funded by the United States Institute of Peace.

Over the past several months, ten aspiring filmmakers came together who participated in an intensive online mentorship series with Patakha Pictures’ international mentor, Sundance Award-winning documentary filmmaker Jesse Ericka Epstein, concluding with an in-person editing and closing event in Karachi.

This collaboration resulted in five short documentary films which offered unique perspectives on the environmental challenges faced by communities in Pakistan. The closing event celebrating the completion of the programme, took place in Karachi. The Fellows showcased their work and were celebrated for their determination to tackle climate change issues.

In attendance were two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Sarwat Gillani [who also hosted a panel discussion with Jesse Ericka Epstein and Patakha Pictures fellows], Mehwish Hayat, Syra Yousuf, Saqib Malik, Ali Hamza, Samina Ahmed, Kompal Iqbal, Sheema Kermani, Alycia Dias, Amean J., Sania Maskatiya, Safinaz Muneer, Maheen Khan, and Fahad Mirza, who shared valuable insights with the participants.

This event also served as a platform for fellows to discuss their projects, sharing glimpses into the creative process behind their films—a powerful testament to the talent nurtured through “Her Earth Advocates.”