Islamabad The CLiFF/Workers Health and Safety Centre (WHSC) Award for this year’s Canadian Labour International Film Festival (CLiFF) was handed out to film ‘Silent Voices: Home-based Women Workers in Pakistan’, directed by Aisha Gazdar.According to a press release, the $2,500 award is given out to the film that best raises awareness around health and safety issues. Gazdar’s short film tells the stories of home-based women workers in Pakistan in a gritty and realistic style. She has worked in the field of women’s development and journalism and as writer and researcher in a number of documentaries. ‘Silent Voices’ was selected to be a part of CLiFF’s Festival-in-a-Box package so 75% of festival locations will see it as part of their screenings. “Gazdar shows us what it’s like when you don’t have the protections needed for workers, and she also shows what workers can accomplish when they speak up for themselves,” said Tom Parkin, Managing Director of the WHSC, who handed out the award in Toronto. “We are proud to partner with CLiFF and bring great films to Canadians, as well as workers all over the world,” he said. Gazdar follows in the footsteps of her late father, Mushtaq Gazdar, a renowned documentary filmmaker. Last year’s award went to Toxic Trespass, by Barri Cohen.
