Opening ceremony of Sharm El-Sheikh Asian Cinema

Scene from the Pakistani documentary 'Saving Face' Cairo – Ashraf Nihad Saving Face, a documentary about acid attacks on women in Pakistan was screened in the opening ceremony of Sharm el-Sheikh Asian Cinema Festival. The festival runs from November 7-13. Writer and critic Al-Amir Abatha, head of the festival said: “This film sheds lights

on a subject that concerns women in Pakistan and other countries around the world. But the topic is never discussed.”
“The choice of screening this film is in support for Egyptian women’s rights to fight for their rights in a modest cinematic tribute to celebrate the success of the January 25 Revolution, with an emphasis on the festival’s solidarity with the fight against non-discrimination against women in all parts of the world.”
Saving Face follows women who are survivors of acid attacks in Pakistan and a Pakistani surgeon who returns to his homeland from the UK to help give back their faces. The Oscar winner for best documentary short is Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s first ever Oscar win.

Saving Face is the first Pakistani film to win an academy award.