Oscar Nominations 2012: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Pakistan’s First Ever Nominee

Documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is the first native of Pakistan to be nominated for an Oscar award by the film establishment of Hollywood.

Her documentary entitled “Saving Face” was nominated in the short-subject documentary category. The film details the horrific practice of men in Pakistan attacking women with acid and the efforts of a plastic surgeon named Mohammad Jawad to treat these victims and reconstruct their faces and bodies.

Such attacks are believed to be greatly under-reported in Pakistan.

In an interview with Dawn, the English-language Pakistani newspaper, she explained: “I personally feel that acid attacks are the worst form of violence, I stuck to the idea and was determined to show the world the process a woman goes through after this hideous act. I would also like to thank the women for the resilience, patience and dedication they showed throughout the filming of this documentary.”

Obaid-Chinoy also told BBC she was speechless to get the nomination.

An Academy Award nomination is stuff dreams are made of, she said.

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.

Obaid-Chinoy has already made several documentaries on a wide array of subjects, including the Taliban, violence against women, homosexuality, child abuse and natural disasters.

She is already the first Pakistan to win an Emmy Award from US television for her documentary on the Taliban in Pakistan.