Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy's 'Song of Lahore' gains entry into Tribeca Film Festival!

The laurels keep coming for Sharmeen, don’t they?

The talented Paksitani Oscar-winning filmmaker’s new documentary titled ‘Song of Lahore’ has been selected for the World Documentary Feature Competition at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Chinoy’s documentary is the only Pakistani entry from a select 15 entries.

Song of Lahore is a documentar by Andy Shocken and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. The film focuses on Sachal Studios founded by Izzat Maheed in Lahore. The move was a heroic attempt to revive Pakistani traditional music, using traditional instruments in the wake of cultural decline in the country. The official site of the movie describes the plot and focus of the movie in the following words:-

“In 2004, Izzat Majeed founded Sachal Studios to create a space for traditional music in a nation that had rejected its musical roots.  After convincing a number of master musicians to pick up their instruments again, they quietly released some classical and folk albums.  But it is an experimental album fusing jazz and South Asian instruments that brings Sachal Studios worldwide acclaim.  Their rendition of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five becomes a sensation, and Wynton Marsalis invites them to New York to perform with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.  After a groundbreaking week of rehearsals fusing the orchestras from Lahore and New York, the musicians take to the stage for a remarkable concert.”

The documentary is vying for the Best Documentary Feature, Best New Documentary Director and Best Documentary Editing at Tribeca Film Festival. The acclaimed and prestigious award shows were founded by Hollywood legend Robert De Niro, producer Jane Rosenthal and investor Craig Hatkoff way back in 2002. The move was in response to the deadly September 11 2001 attacks in New York and its aim was to revive economic vitality back in the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture.

The event will take place from April 15-26 throughout different locations in downtown Manhattan. Sharmeen previously became an overnight sensation when she became the first and only Pakistani till-date to bag an Oscar for her documentary, Saving Face. Owing to her undeniable talent and knack for capturing the struggles of people through the camera lens, we are ecstatic at the announcement and hope Song of Lahore makes the nation proud!