Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has wrapped up the newest cycle of her women-focused filmmaking initiative, Story She Tells — a program that has quietly become one of the most important creative incubators for emerging female storytellers in Pakistan.
This edition brought together eight young filmmakers from Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Quetta and Chitral, each arriving with their own lived experiences, questions and stories they’ve long wanted to tell. Over several months, they worked in pairs to develop short documentaries exploring themes ranging from identity and artistic expression to cultural memory and personal resilience.
The initiative is organised by Patakha Pictures, an SOC Films project, and supported by the British Council and the Scottish Documentary Institute — partnerships that allow participants to receive international-level training without leaving home. Mentors such as Noe Mendelle, the founding director of SDI, helped the fellows dig deeper into their ideas, shape their visual style, and refine their editorial choices.
The program ended with a closing event in Karachi, where participants screened the first trailers of their completed films. The day also included hands-on editing workshops and creative discussions that wrapped up what many described as an eye-opening journey into documentary storytelling.
Speaking at the finale, Sharmeen reflected on why she continues to invest in these young filmmakers. “I am a product of Pakistan,” she said, “but a yellow brick road of opportunities took me around the world into rooms where women like me rarely go. Now it’s my turn to open some of those doors for others.”
Her words hit home — especially considering the growing footprint of Patakha Pictures. So far, 69 filmmakers who have come through its programs have screened work at more than 50 international film festivals, picking up awards and helping expand the presence of Pakistani women in global documentary cinema.
The 2025 cohort’s films cover a remarkable range: theatre, music, gender identity, activism and personal storytelling, each project reflecting the diversity of voices shaping Pakistan’s cultural landscape.
Story She Tells may be modest in scale, but its impact is undeniable — quietly building the next generation of women who will shape how Pakistan tells its stories.
