During these turbulent times, a small audience in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania took a liking to Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Andy Schocken's documentary, Song of Lahore.
The film has won the Audience Award at the 11th Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival, a festival organised by the Silk Screen organisation that seeks to increase awareness about the Asian arts.
The film profiles the Sachal Jazz Ensemble, a Lahore-based group of classical musicians whose innovative album shot them into the global spotlight despite their trying circumstances. The ensemble is made up of musicians who had previously given up on the art, but were banded together by Izzat Majeed. Song of Lahore tells their journey.
The film has previously won the audience choice award at the London Indian Film Festival. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2015, where it was nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category.
We love Sharmeen Chonaye Qismat Ray.
Many congrats Sharmeen. Pakistan stands proud!
Hats off to Sharmeen Obaid for winning the award. May she achieves further laurels for Pakistan in the future.