Patakha Pictures Showcases Powerful Women-Led Films at 7th ‘Stories She Tells’ Edition
Eight emerging filmmakers unveil bold, intimate stories as Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy celebrates Pakistan’s largest women-centered filmmaking mentorship program.
The seventh edition of Patakha Pictures’ flagship filmmaking grant and mentorship program, Stories She Tells, concluded with a vibrant showcase in Karachi, celebrating eight emerging women filmmakers from Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Chitral, and Quetta. Led by two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the event marked the first public unveiling of the fellows’ film trailers, offering a preview of four deeply personal stories shaped over six months of intensive training and mentorship.
Patakha Pictures — an SOC Films initiative in partnership with the British Council and the Scottish Documentary Institute — continues to stand as Pakistan’s largest filmmaking support program for women. This year’s cohort worked in creative pairs to develop films that explored themes of resilience, music, identity, spirituality, cultural roots, and women’s lived experiences.
Over the course of the programme, the fellows engaged in an extensive online mentorship with international mentor Noe Mendelle, founder of the Scottish Documentary Institute and a celebrated filmmaker known for guiding new voices around the world. The program concluded with an in-person editing and final session in Karachi, attended by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Mendelle, representatives of partner organisations, filmmakers, and members of the media.
During the showcase, Obaid-Chinoy emphasized the transformative power of storytelling when women are given resources, trust, and space to express themselves. She praised the filmmakers for tackling complex and courageous narratives, calling the showcased work a testament to the potential unlocked when emerging talent is nurtured.
The British Council reiterated its long-term commitment to supporting young storytellers in Pakistan. James Hampson, Country Director, highlighted how the partnership with SOC Films continues to strengthen creative expression, build professional capacity, and amplify women’s voices across the country and beyond.
Since its launch in 2022, Patakha Pictures has mentored 69 filmmakers who have collectively won over 25 awards and screened their work at more than 70 international festivals, from New York to Seoul, Montreal to Milan, and Karachi to Canberra. The 2025 cohort carries that legacy forward, expanding the landscape of women-led storytelling in Pakistan and reaffirming the program’s role as a catalyst for creative excellence.
