Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy | |
|---|---|
 Chinoy at theWorld Economic Forum in 2013 | |
| Born | (1978-11-12)November 12, 1978 (age 47) |
| Citizenship | Canadian |
| Alma mater | Smith College (BA) Stanford University (MA,MIP) |
| Occupations | Filmmaker, journalist |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse | Fahd Kamal Chinoy |
| Children | 2 |
| Honours | Hilal-e-Imtiaz |
| Website | Official website |
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Urdu:شرمین عبید چنائے; born November 12, 1978) is a Pakistanijournalist,filmmaker andpolitical activist known for her work in films that highlightgender inequalityagainst women. She is the recipient of seven Emmy Awards and two Academy Awards.
Obaid-Chinoy was born on 12 November 1978 inKarachi,[1] Pakistan. She is aGujarati Muslim. Her mother Saba Obaid is a social worker, and her father Sheikh Obaid was a businessman.[2][3] She has four younger sisters, including Mahjabeen Obaid, and a younger brother.[4][5]Obaid-Chinoy attendedConvent of Jesus and Mary, followed by schooling atKarachi Grammar School, where she was a class-fellow ofKumail Nanjiani.[6][7] According to her, she was not inclined toward academics but received good grades. She asked many questions about the world, so her mother suggested that she put her questions in writing. Obaid-Chinoy wrote to a local English-language newspaper, and by the age of 17 was doing investigative reporting for it.[5]
Obaid-Chinoy moved to the United States to attendSmith College, where she completed her bachelor's degree in Economics and Government in 2002.[8] Later, she received two master's degrees fromStanford University in Communication and International Policy Studies.[9] Following her education, she moved to Toronto with her husband Fahd Chinoy, and as of 2015[update] divided her time between Karachi and Toronto.[10] She became a Canadian citizen in 2004.[11]
 | This biographical sectionis writtenlike a résumé. Pleasehelp improve it by revising it to beneutral andencyclopedic.(January 2024) |
In 2002, Obaid-Chinoy returned to Pakistan,[12] and launched her career as a filmmaker with her first filmTerror's Children forThe New York Times.[13] In 2003 and 2004 she made two award-winning films while a graduate student atStanford University.[13] She then began a long association with thePBS TV seriesFrontline World, where she reported "On a Razor's Edge" in 2004 and went on over the next 5 years to produce many broadcast reports, online videos and written "Dispatches" from Pakistan. Her most notable films includeChildren of the Taliban,The Lost Generation,Afghanistan Unveiled,3 Bahadur,Song of Lahore and the Academy Award-winningSaving Face andA Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness.[14] Her visual contributions have earned her numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Short Subject Documentary (2012 and 2016) and theEmmy Award in thesame category (2010 and 2011) and theOne World Media Award for Broadcast Journalist of the Year (2007). Her films have been aired on several international channels, including thePBS,CNN,Discovery Channel,Al Jazeera English andChannel 4.[15][16][17][18][19]
Obaid-Chinoy has won seven Emmy Awards,[15][20][21][22] including two in theInternational Emmy Award for Current Affairs Documentary category for the filmsPakistan's Taliban Generation[21] andSaving Face.[22] Her Academy Award win forSaving Face made her the first Pakistani to win an Academy Award,[23][24][25] and one of only 11 female directors to ever win an Oscar for a non-fiction film.[26][27][28] She is also the first non-American to win theLivingston Award for Young Journalists.[25]
In 2007, Obaid-Chinoy helped found the Citizens Archive of Pakistan, whose projects center around the preservation of Pakistan's cultural and social heritage. She also serves as the Ambassador for Blood Safety for Pakistan's national blood safety program.[29] Obaid-Chinoy is aTED Fellow.[30]Time magazine named her in its annual list of the100 most influential people in the world for 2012.[31]
On 23 March 2012, Pakistan's president conferred the second highest civilian award, theHilal-e-Imtiaz, on Obaid-Chinoy for bringing honour to Pakistan as a filmmaker.[32][33][34][35] The same yearTime magazine named her one of the100 most influential people in the world. She was ranked 37th on Desiclub.com's list of the 50 Coolest Desis of 2009.[36] In 2012, Obaid-Chinoy released the 5-part seriesHo Yaqeen (To Believe). In 2014, SOC Films and Obaid-Chinoy releasedAghaz-e-Safar, a 12-episode series forAaj News which tackled issues affecting ordinary Pakistanis across the country including child abuse, domestic violence, issues of gun violence,water scarcity,land grabbing etc.[37] She holds the records for being the first female film director to have won two Academy Awards by the age of 37[38][39][32] and the first person of Pakistani origin to be nominated for (and to win) the Academy Award for best documentary in the short subject category, and the first person of Pakistani origin to win any Academy Award.[23][24][25]
In 2014, SOC Films released the 6-part seriesI Heart Karachi. On 19 April 2015,Song of Lahore,[40] directed and produced by her and Andy Schocken, premiered atTribeca Film Festival[41] and was the Runner-Up to the Tribeca Audience Choice Award.[42] In September 2015,Broad Green Pictures[43] acquired the U.S. distribution rights toSong of Lahore announcing the release of the film in select cinemas in the U.S. In October 2015 the film was submitted for consideration in the documentary feature category for the 2016 Oscars by theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[44]Song of Lahore European premiere was at theInternational Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)[45] from 18 to 29 November 2015. The film had itsMiddle Eastern premiere at the 12th AnnualDubai International Film Festival[46] in December 2015.
On 22 May 2015, Pakistan's first animated movie,3 Bahadur, directed by Obaid-Chinoy, a film dedicated to inculcating bravery in the youth of Pakistan, was released byWaadi Animations. It was the first computer-animated feature-length film made by a Pakistani.[15][29][47] Despite being shown on only 50 screens in Pakistan, the film became Pakistan's highest grossing animated movie of all time, earning Rs 6.5 million and exceeding the record set byRio 2.[48]3 Bahadur also screened at theMontreal World Film Festival[49] inCanada, in August 2015.
On 11 September 2015,Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers[50] Obaid-Chinoy's feature documentary, co-directed and produced with Geeta Gandbhir, screened at theToronto International Film Festival[51][52] 2015 for its North American premiere. The film follows the journey of threeBangladeshi women soldiers who are deployed toHaiti as part of theUnited Nations peacekeeping mission. The film premiered at theMumbai Film Festival[53] on 29 October 2015 for its Asian premiere and played at theDOC NYC[54] Festival in November 2015.
On 15 February 2016, Obaid-Chinoy met with thePrime Minister of Pakistan,Nawaz Sharif inIslamabad to discuss the measures required to pluglegal loopholes which allow the perpetrators of the so-calledhonour killings to walk free.[55] On 22 February 2016, the first screening ofA Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness was held at thePrime Minister's Secretariat in Islamabad, opened by remarks made by Obaid-Chinoy and Prime Minister Sharif - concerning the amendments needed to prevent honour killings from occurring in Pakistan. On 17 February 2016, the film screened at theUnited Nations Headquarters inNew York City as part of a discussion of women and peacekeeping.[56] The documentary won theHumanitarian Award at theRiverRun International Film Festival on 21 April 2016 and also won at theBentonville Film Festival, dated 7 May 2016.[57] On 28 February 2016,A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness won Obaid-Chinoy a second Oscar for Best Documentary, Short Subject at the88th Academy Awards. This is the first Oscar win for her film companySOC Films and her second Oscar as director.[58] Later in 2017, the work also received anInternational Emmy Award for Best Documentary.[59]
"This week the Pakistani prime minister has said that he will change the law on honour killing after watching this film. That is the power of film."
On 20 May 2016Song of Lahore was released in select cinemas acrossNew York City andLos Angeles.
Obaid-Chinoy's commercial ventureSulagta Sitara is a documentary series which was released onARY Digital in 2016. In January 2017, she was invited to speak at the 47thWorld Economic Forum (WEF), and was the first artist[clarification needed] to co-chair the WEF's annual meeting.[61][62][63] Obaid-Chinoy said: "It is a great honour to be the first artist ever to be given the opportunity to co-chair the prestigious World Economic Forum at Davos in 2017. I have always believed that the true mark of any thriving society is the amount of investment made in its cultural and artistic infrastructure. There is, now, an increasing recognition of the fact that business and economics must go hand-in-hand with culture and arts for society to move forward and it is with great pride that I will be representing both the art community and my country, Pakistan!"[64]
From 1–9 July 2017 a new work by Obaid-Chinoy -HOME1947[65] - was inaugurated at theManchester International Festival.[66] The exhibition then travelled to Mumbai in August, where it formed part of the Museum of Memories at the Godrej India Culture Lab.[67] The Pakistan premiere ofHome 1947 took place in October 2017[68] at the Heritage Now festival in Lahore,[69] before transferring to Karachi[70] in December 2017.[71]
Obaid-Chinoy's series of documentary films,Look But With Love, released on theWithin app in October 2017, is Pakistan's firstvirtual reality documentary series focusing on the people of Pakistan who are striving to change the socio-political landscape of their communities through causes they are passionate about.[72][73]
In November 2017, Obaid-Chinoy was awarded the 2017 Knight International Journalism Award, by theInternational Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in Washington, DC. The award recognises her efforts to chronicle the human toll of extremism. "At great personal risk, Obaid-Chinoy and al Masri faced terrorism head on, getting behind the scenes to chronicle untold abuses", said ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan.[74] The award by the ICFJ recognises media professionals who demonstrate a passionate commitment to excellent reporting that makes a difference in the lives of people around the world. Obaid-Chinoys' work in highlighting legal loopholes around the practice of honour killing led to legislative change in Pakistan.[75]
In 2018, theAagahi series was launched which educates women about the rights and how to navigate the police and judicial system.Aagahi has won wide acclaim with women sharing the videos and commenting on their usefulness.[76][77][78][79]
In 2018, Obaid-Chinoy spoke at TED in Vancouver about the impact of mobile cinema which has been traveling across Pakistan screening films for small towns and communities in all provinces.[80]
In June 2018, it was announced that theHBO Sports documentaryStudent Athlete, directed by Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton, would be debuting on 2 October 2018 on the HBO network.[81]
In September 2019, Obaid-Chinoy unveiled her animated film,Sitara: Let Girls Dream, in theaters in New York.[82] It was produced under the banner of Obaid-Chinoy's animation company,Waadi Animations entirely in Pakistan, in association withVice Studios andGucci's Chime For Change.[83]
Her animated mini-seriesStories for Children about inspiring figures in Pakistan looks at local heroes' relationships with their parents.[84][85] Obaid-Chinoy is thehonorary consul general forNorway in Karachi, Pakistan.[86]
It was announced in September 2020 that Obaid-Chinoy would be co-directing theMs. Marvel series withAdil El Arbi,Bilall Fallah andMeera Menon forDisney+ to bringMarvel Studios’ first Muslim hero to the big screen.[87][88] The opportunity made her the first Pakistani director to be involved with Marvel.[89]
Following its tour in Pakistan, theHome 1947 showcase made itsNorth American debut atOklahoma Contemporary in February 2022. Within this exhibition, Obaid-Chinoy contributed two films that delve into the profound impact of thePartition of India in 1947. Obaid-Chinoy's earlier film,Terror’s Children (2002), focused on Afghan refugee children in Karachi.[90]
In September 2022, Patakha Pictures, founded by Obaid-Chinoy, launched "Pakistan Stories" in collaboration with theScottish Documentary Institute and theBritish Council. The initiative supported ten female Pakistani documentary filmmakers, pairing them to produce five short films over 12 weeks, celebrating 75 years of Pakistan through the female gaze.[91]
In February 2023 Obaid-Chinoy introduced an international art residency program "Neela Asmaan" through SOC Films. The program provides opportunities for both emerging and established artists from Pakistan and beyond to work in the picturesqueShigar Valley ofGilgit-Baltistan.[92]
It was announced in April 2023 that Obaid-Chinoy is set to direct a new documentary about the life of fashion designerDiane von Fürstenberg. The documentary, co-directed with Trish Dalton called Diane von Fürstenberg: Woman in Charge has been released onHulu. It features interviews with her family, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Barry Diller, Anderson Cooper, Mark Jacobs, archival footage, as well as telling her mother's story as a Holocaust survivor.[93]
| † | Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Director | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Terror's Children | Yes | Yes | |
| 2003 | Reinventing the Taliban? | Yes | Yes | |
| 2004, 2009 | Frontline/World | No | Yes | Segments: "Pakistan: On a Razor's Edge", "Children of the Taliban", "Pakistan: Letter from Karachi" |
| 2005 | Women of the Holy Kingdom | Yes | Yes | |
| 2005 | Pakistan's Double Game | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | Highway of Tears | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | City of Guilt | No | Yes | |
| 2006 | Cold Comfort | Yes | Yes | |
| 2006 | The New Apartheid | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | Assimilation No, Integration Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2007 | Birth of a Nation | Yes | No | |
| 2007, 2009 | Dispatches | No | Yes | Episodes: "Afghanistan Unveiled", "Pakistan's Taliban Generation" |
| 2008 | Iraq: The Lost Generation | No | Yes | |
| 2010 | True Stories | Yes | Yes | Episode: "Transgender: Pakistan's Open Secret" |
| Sold: Fighting the New Global Slave Trade | No | Yes | ||
| 2012 | Saving Face | Yes | Yes | |
| 2013 | Ho Yaqeen | Yes | Yes | 6 episodes, director: episode "Humera Bachal" |
| 2014 | Seeds of Change | Yes | Yes | |
| Aghaz-e-safar | Yes | No | 12 episodes[37] | |
| 2015 | Song of Lahore | Yes | Yes | |
| A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers | Yes | Yes | ||
| A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2016 | Woman with Gloria Steinem | No | Yes | Episode: "Pakistan: On the Frontlines" |
| 2017 | Ladies First | No | Yes | |
| Look But With Love | Yes | Yes | virtual reality documentary series, 5 episodes[73] | |
| 2018 | Aagahi | No | Yes | 14 animated shorts[79] |
| DOC World | No | Yes | Episode: "Armed with Faith" | |
| Stories for children | No | Yes | animated shorts, 4 episodes | |
| Climate Change | Yes | No | animated shorts, 5 episodes[94][95] | |
| Student Athlete | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2019 | Freedom Fighters | Yes | Yes | |
| 2020 | Fundamental. Gender. Justice. No Exceptions. | Yes | Yes | 5 episodes |
| 2021 | A Life Too Short | No | Yes |
| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 Bahadur | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2016 | 3 Bahadur: The Revenge of Baba Balaam | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2018 | 3 Bahadur: Rise of the Warriors | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2020 | Sitara: Let Girls Dream | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2022 | Ms. Marvel | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes |
| Year | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | HOME1947 | "Immersive exhibition"[96] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | One World Media | Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award | General work | Won | |
| 2010 | International Emmy Award | Best Documentary | Pakistan's Taliban Generation | Won | |
| Livingston Award | Young Journalists - Best International Reporting | General work | Won | ||
| 2012 | Academy Award | Best Documentary Short Film | Saving Face | Won | |
| New York Indian Film Festival | Best Documentary | Won | |||
| SAARC Film Awards | Best Documentary Prize | Won | |||
| Glamour Awards | The Lifesaver | Won | |||
| Hilal-i-Imtiaz | Contribution to arts | General work | Honorary | ||
| Time 100 | Listed | [97] | |||
| 2013 | Crystal Award | Outstanding efforts in Promoting Human Rights and Women's Issues through Film | Won | ||
| International Emmy Award | Best Documentary | Saving Face | Won | ||
| Outstanding Editing: Documentary and Long Form | Won | ||||
| Outstanding Science and Technology Programming | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Cinematography Documentary and Long Form | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Research | Nominated | ||||
| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (Canadian version) | General work | Honorary | [97] | ||
| 2014 | Asia Game Changer Award | For eye-opening films that give voice to the voiceless | Won | [98][99] | |
| 2014 | BBC's 100 women | Women in War | Listed | [100] | |
| 2015 | Time 100 | ||||
| 2016 | Academy Award | Best Documentary Short Subject | A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness | Won | |
| 2017 | International Emmy Award | Best Documentary | A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness | Won | |
| Knight International Journalism Award | General work | Won | [101] | ||
| 2017 | Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award | Television-International | A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness | Won | [102] |
| 2018 | Smith College Honorary Degree | Documentary journalism in advancing human rights | General work | Honorary | [103] |
| 2018 | Eliasson Global Leadership Prize | World-class Storytelling Skills | Won | [104] | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
