Pakistani filmmaker wins 2nd Oscar for Short Film category

Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won her second career Oscar Monday for "A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness" in the Best Documentary (Short) category.

The documentary was Sharmeen's latest outing from the series of socially charged investigative films from her Karachi-based film company SOC Film.

The 37-year-old filmmaker previously won an academy award for her short film "Saving Face" in 2012, which was about acid attacks on women in Pakistan.

In "A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness," Sharmeen raises the issue of "honor killings," the religiously motivated killings due to which more than 1,000 girls and women become victims every year in Pakistan.

The short film follows story of an 18-year-old Pakistani girl who survived a brutal attack by her father and uncle bent on an "honor killing," for getting married to a man against the wishes of her family.

Saba was shot in the head and was thrown in the river by her father, but she somehow survived and went to police station, but later had to forgive her attackers under the pressure of family members.

In her acceptance speech, Sharmeen said that she met the country's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who assured her that he has decided to change the law on honor killing after watching this film. "That is the power of film," she added.

The premiere of the film was also hosted by Sharif at Prime Minister House earlier on Feb. 22 which was attended by senior cabinet members and diplomats.

Praises were showered at Sharmeen by her colleagues and fans across the world after she accepted the award.

Sharif and other officials from the Pakistani government congratulated Sharmeen on winning the award and vowed to address the issue for protecting women. Endit