Two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, in collaboration with the Scottish Documentary Institute and the British Council, has announced the eight fellows selected for the eighth edition of Patakha Pictures, Pakistan’s biggest filmmaking mentorship and funding programme, under Claim the Frame.
The 2026 cohort will develop four documentary projects led by emerging women filmmakers, focusing on resilience, climate, identity and social change across Pakistan. The films will feature stories ranging from Pakistan’s first female drifter and the realities of climate-induced child marriage in rural Sindh to the resilience of families in Cholistan and a self-taught midwife working to transform maternal healthcare in Shimshal Valley.
Launched in 2022 under Patakha Pictures, an initiative of SOC Films, the programme was established to support the next generation of documentary filmmakers through funding, international mentorship and hands-on creative development. Since its inception, Patakha Pictures has supported 69 emerging filmmakers, whose films have collectively won more than 25 awards and screened at over 70 international film festivals.
Selected from Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan, the eight fellows will work in four pairs over the next five months to develop four original documentaries. The selected fellows for Claim the Frame are Ishma Areeb and Javaria Waseem from Lahore, Punjab; Aleezeh Fatima and Aisha Manzoor from Karachi, Sindh; Kinza Waqar Un Nisa Zainab and Jazaba Raheel from Lahore, Punjab; and Shagufta Rasool and Munira Shah from Hunza and Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan.
The five-month fellowship will begin on 15 July 2026 and will combine production funding with an intensive mentorship programme supporting every stage of the filmmaking process. Fellows will take part in workshops on storytelling, directing, cinematography, editing and documentary production.
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Noe Mendelle will return as international mentor for the fourth consecutive year. This edition will also feature an expanded group of distinguished local and international industry professionals, marking a significant development in the programme’s mentorship model. For the first time, fellows will have access to a broader range of creative and technical expertise, with diverse perspectives and specialised knowledge contributing to the development of each film.
The programme will also introduce individually tailored workshops designed around the specific needs, ambitions and challenges of each project. According to the organisers, this focused and personalised approach will allow each fellow to receive targeted guidance throughout her creative journey.
“In just a few years, Patakha Pictures has brought 69 emerging filmmakers to the global stage. Their numerous international awards and screenings prove one thing: when you back Pakistani talent, the world pays attention. Claim the Frame is the next chapter in this journey, giving a new cohort of storytellers the resources and platform to share their truths with the world,” said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Founder, Patakha Pictures.
James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan, said: “We are delighted to launch Claim the Frame, the fourth cycle of the Pakistan Stories partnership between the British Council, Patakha Pictures and SDI Films. Over the past three editions, our partnership has created valuable opportunities for filmmakers to develop their skills, tell authentic stories, and connect with wider audiences. Through Claim the Frame, we are continuing our commitment to creating opportunities for emerging female filmmakers in Pakistan to strengthen their creative practice and bring their unique perspectives to the screen. We look forward to seeing this year's participants develop powerful stories that resonate with audiences, while building lasting connections within Pakistan and internationally.”
The fellowship will conclude later in the year with a showcase in Karachi, where fellows will present their documentary trailers to filmmakers, producers, festival programmers and members of Pakistan’s creative community. The showcase will mark the next step in taking these stories to audiences in Pakistan and around the world.
Patakha Pictures is an initiative of SOC Films dedicated to supporting the next generation of documentary storytellers in Pakistan.
