The 2016 Oscars may have been riddled with controversy about nominating only White actors, but let’s not forget to acknowledge some serious groundbreaking wins from Muslim filmmakers.
This year, two of them have taken home the wins in both the shorts and feature categories for documentaries!
Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has won an Academy Award for “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness” in the category of best documentary (short subject). The film features the story of an 18-year-old Pakistani honor killing survivor as well as the rampant other cases persisting in rural villages of Pakistan.
This film is the latest in a series of investigative shorts from her Karachi-based film company SOC Films, which highlight social issues not often covered on mainstream platforms. She previously won another Academy Award for “Saving Face” in 2012, about acid attacks in the same category.
British filmmaker Asif Kapadia, alongside James Gay-Rees, joined in the win for the category of best documentary feature on “Amy” — the heartbreaking account of Amy Winehouse, and the story behind her complex life from the beginning to the tragic end.
Kapadia has previously won four BAFTAs for “Amy,” “Senna” and “The Warrior” — as well as a Grammy Award for “Amy.”
Congratulations to both of these movers and shakers!
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