THROUGH THEIR LENS

With the world facing a climate crisis, filmmakers play a crucial role in raising awareness and advocating for change. Their storytelling abilities have the power to evoke emotions, drive engagement, and mobilise communities to address environmental challenges collectively. Filmmakers are powerful advocates, transforming complex climate issues into relatable human stories that spark empathy and urgency. By documenting real-life impacts and amplifying marginalised voices, they inspire communities and policymakers to understand, act, and push for sustainable change.

In a bid to encourage young female filmmakers, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, an award-winning filmmaker, started a filmmaking grant and mentorship programme under the banner - ‘Patakha Pictures’ in 2022. So far, the ‘Patakha Pictures’ mentorship programmes have funded 40 filmmakers who have created 21 films, which have garnered a total of 27 local and international awards. These films have been screened at over 50 international film festivals around the world.

Her latest venture is ‘Her Earth Advocates’ featuring 10 filmmakers from across Pakistan. Ten aspiring filmmakers came together - Maira Pasha and Shifa Rajput; Nadia Zartaj and Nagina Jabeen; Natasha Javed and Nirmal Bano; Sabika Noor Ali and Namrah Sikander; Saro Imran and Zareen Rajpoot - and participated in an intensive online mentorship series with Patakha Pictures’ international mentor and Sundance Award-Winning documentary filmmaker, Jesse Ericka Epstein.

This collaboration resulted in five short documentary films which offer unique perspectives on the environmental challenges faced by communities in Pakistan.

These documentaries present diverse insights into climate issues often overlooked. The filmmakers ensure that stories about climate change reflect the full scope of human experiences, inspiring more inclusive and comprehensive solutions. You! got an opportunity to talk to these fearless and bold filmmakers regarding their aspirations and documentary films. Read on...

“We must act to save rivers and our future” - Nirmal Bano and Natasha Javed

Nirmal Bano and Natasha Javed’s film explores the evolving and troubled relationship between the Sutlej River and the people who live along its banks. The film intertwines myth, memory, and reality, culminating in a stark contrast with a modern-day climate expert who speaks clinically about the river’s impending flood, disconnected from the emotional ties and lived experiences of the local community. Talking about their short documentary they say, “We have tried to capture the impact of colonial policies and borders on the Sutlej River. Toxic and hazardous water as well as flooding has adversely impacted life within the river as well as that of the people living on its banks. The documentary sheds light on how critical it is to decolonise Punjab’s rivers or we are at a risk of losing them entirely. The neoliberal capitalist policies inherited by the states of India and Pakistan are destroying our rivers and land and impacting climate change adversely.”

“As far as challenges are concerned, we made sure to choose a location that was accessible and we don’t meet unexpected challenges on the days of filming. However, we faced an initial hiccup when we had to change our schedule and dates because it was monsoon season and we could only film once the risk of flooding was minimised,” elucidates Nirmal.

So, what surprised you the most about the impact of climate change on the communities you documented in your film? “One thing we learnt was that different communities living on the banks of the river have different relationships with the river. For the fishermen, the river is their life whereas for the farmers it can be a source of life but also pain because of the heightened risk of flooding and destruction of crops every year. The emotions varied at times. However, there is a visceral bond between the river and every person and animal who lives on its banks. It’s a precious relationship and we hope it shows,” replies Natasha.

Both Natasha and Nirmal strongly believe that their Pakistani story about climate change resonates with a global audience. “Scarcity of water is the most pressing issue of today. This is not unique to our region. Statistically, about two billion people worldwide don’t have access to safe drinking water today. We hope everyone who watches the documentary understands the urgency with which we must act to save rivers and our future.”

“Women are great storytellers. The world would get to see a lot of great stories if more women became filmmakers. We would suggest all aspiring filmmakers to find opportunities, mentorships and programs that are desirable and accessible to them. There is great learning and joy in taking action and making things happen,” they add.

“Small stories have the power to create change and inspire action” - Saro Imran and Zareen Rajput

Saro Imran and Zareen Rajpoot’s short documentary follows the lives of two resilient women, Rashi and Mushtaqii, both from Muzaffargarh District in Pakistan, whose lives were deeply impacted by the devastating floods of 2022. “Our documentary focuses on the impact of the 2022 floods on Pakistan’s transgender community, highlighting how climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities for marginalised groups.

We hope our film sparks discussions on inclusivity in climate resilience planning, encouraging policymakers and communities to recognise and address the unique needs of all affected groups, especially those who are marginalised,” explains Saro. “However, limited access to remote flood-affected areas and lack of proper transportation posed challenges. We overcome these obstacles by collaborating with local community members who provide guidance and resources to help us navigate these areas safely. We were struck by the resilience of the transgender community, who, despite facing exclusion in relief efforts, organised support networks to help one another recover from the floods. This solidarity was powerful and inspiring,” adds Saro.

Both filmmakers are hopeful that their documentary will engage international audience too. “Our film emphasises how marginalised communities worldwide bear the brunt of climate change, a universal issue. By sharing this Pakistani story, we hope to foster empathy and highlight that climate impacts transcend borders, affecting vulnerable populations globally,” states Zareen.

“We must address humane complexities of loss and grief” - Namra Sikandar and Sabika Noor

Since 2015, the region of Tharparkar has been experiencing an increase in the frequency and intensity of lightning that strikes the land and trees, leaving casualties in its wake. This documentary explores the Thari’s changing relationship to rain from the bearer of joy to an aspect of fear. “We hope the audience that watches our film walks away with the realisation that climate change unjustly causes burden and fatalities to people who are very vulnerable to the climate crisis, even though their carbon footprint is next to non-existent. We hope this awareness stirs a conversation about helping these communities and inspire change for those who lead simple lives but are unfairly impacted by the global crisis,” comments Namra.

“When it comes to challenges, the lack of network and roads were huge impediments in our journey to the village of Ikraro. From an emotional perspective, it was jarring to see a whole village enveloped in grief but had no choice but to continue working in the fields that took away their loved ones,” shares Sabika.

“The emotions we strive to show in our documentary is about the humane complexities of loss and grief. We hope that audiences domestically and internationally can relate to our characters and feel their pain and try to help them with funding and research if it lies in their power to do so. We also wish to show international communities about villages and people they won’t often see in their societies to build awareness of the unjust impact of climate change on vulnerable communities,” highlights Namra.

“We must advocate for environmental awareness” - Nadia Zartaj and Nageena Jabeen

Nadia Zartaj and Nageena Jabeen’s film follows the story of the Avagrach Valley, once a thriving home to over 500 people, now nearly abandoned after a devastating flood caused by melting glaciers in 2012. Mr Ghulam Safeer and his wife, like many others, were forced to leave their home and livelihood behind, marking the decline of a once-prosperous community of shepherds and farmers.

Today, only 12 people return to the valley in winter, enduring harsh conditions to preserve their way of life. Through their struggle, the film paints a poignant picture of a community’s resilience amid environmental and social upheavels. While shedding light on their documentary, Nageena and Nadia say, “Due to climate change, we have portrayed the specific aspect that due to melting glaciers, how a hundred years old place is totally cut off road access, and many people have been forced by nature to leave this historically significant place, their homeland. We hope that our film will make a significant contribution to the conversation surrounding climate change and inspire positive action. Through our documentary, we aim to bring about significant change in Gilgit Baltistan. We anticipate that the government will support local communities in reconstructing roads in Avgarch Valley, fostering resilience against climate-related challenges.

“Additionally, we envision the youth initiating Climate Marches to advocate for environmental awareness and speak out about the impacts of human activities on the environment. By amplifying these voices and promoting sustainable practices, we aspire to inspire collective action towards preserving and protecting our environment for future generations,” they elaborate.

Pointing out the challenges Nadia tells, “One significant challenge we faced was the road issue during the shoot. The tracking road was very dangerous, making it difficult to transport equipment and crew safely. Additionally, we faced light challenges in Avgarch Valley as there was no electricity for lighting. To overcome these obstacles, we implemented innovative solutions. We utilised a solar system for charging equipment, ensuring that we had the necessary power to continue filming in areas without access to electricity. This adaptation helped us navigate the challenges posed by the environment and resource limitations during the filming process.”

Nadia and Nageena are confident that their documentary will be liked by global audience. “By sharing our story, we aim to provoke a deeper understanding and spark action among people worldwide, highlighting the interconnectedness of climate change and the importance of collective efforts to address this pressing issue,” expresses Nadia.

“It’s important to stay true to your stories” - Shifa Rajput and Maria Pasha

This documentary explores the complex dynamic between Rehri Goth and the sea, as the community struggles to survive amid environmental and social upheaval. Describing their documentary the filmmakers say, “Our documentary offers a window into a largely unseen part of Pakistan: a densely populated fishing village on the outskirts of Karachi, isolated and often overlooked despite its proximity to one of the country’s largest cities. It sheds light on their unique challenges, from inaccessibility - where we ourselves had to walk long distances because cars couldn’t reach - to the isolation of being without even basic resources like mobile phones.

For Shifa and Maria, filming this documentary was quite a challenge. “The most consistent challenge was accessing the area. Navigating the internal politics and safety of the area was also quite interesting and challenging. We were not allowed to shoot in a lot of places, especially around industries and even the streets at times,” utters Maria.

What surprised Shifa and Maria was the fact that people of Rehri Goth did not have a clue about climate change. “We quickly realised that these people did not know what climate change was or that such a thing even existed. Because many of them would just shake their heads or look at us in confusion or ask if it was something related to the weather or absolutely just deny the impact of it,” notes Shifa.

Shifa and Maria are pretty sure that their documentary has a global appeal. “We think it’s important to stay true to the stories you want to tell. Trust that your unique perspective matters,” stresses Maria.  

Erum Noor Muzaffar is the editor of You! magazine. She can be reached at iram29@hotmail.com