Last weekend added two feathers to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's cap. She won the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness and the world saw the release of 3 Bahadur's second installment.
A Girl in the River is Obaid-Chinoy's 2015 documentary, released on October 28, last year, that focuses on honour killings – one of the biggest issues in Pakistan. It made its worldwide premiere via distributor HBO on March 7, 2016.
The film garnered acclaim around the world, and also bagged an Oscar last year. Obaid-Chinoy's work is renowned globally for depicting that not everything is rainbows and unicorns, despite several of her countrymen criticising her for highlighting Pakistan's negatives to the world.
Her awards-winning film A Girl in the River brings to light the story of Saba, a teenage girl whose father shot her for marrying the man of her choice. According to the accused, his daughter had dishonoured him by choosing her husband, which tarnished his name in the public.
The near-tragic story was significant in that Saba survived the murder attempt, since most honour killing victims are shot and left to die. Cherry on top is the fact that Pakistan's conservative society glorifies such criminals, going as far as labeling such murderers to be ghairatmand (respectable) people in the tribe, something that prompted numerous potential suitors to come forward for Saba's sisters.
The activist-filmmaker's latest achievement – the duPont-Columbia University Award – is the broadcasting equivalent of the famed Pulitzer Prize in journalism space. Alongside A Girl in the River, ESPN's eight-hour documentary OJ: Made in America.
According to Columbia Journalism School's Award Winners page, "The winners will be awarded at Low Memorial Library, Jan. 25, 2017, at the awards' 75th anniversary celebration."
Awards and nominations such as these continue to strengthen local as well as international support for Obaid-Chinoy and the nationwide efforts to put a stop to these ancient, brutish customs, and help build a strong platform for those willing to raise their voices against violence.
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