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Patakha Pictures, the documentary-support initiative created by Karachi production house SOC Films, marked what it describes as its fifth anniversary in October 2026. The programme says it has supported 76 emerging filmmakers, whose work has collected more than 22 awards and secured over 100 festival screenings worldwide. Its latest Claim the Frame cycle paired eight women from Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan with funding, technical workshops and five months of mentorship.
What is Patakha Pictures?
Patakha Pictures is a sister initiative of SOC Films, the Karachi-based production company led by two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Launched in 2022, it is designed to develop Pakistan’s next generation of documentary storytellers through grants, mentorship and practical production training.
The initiative’s central premise is that filmmakers can find compelling subjects in their own communities but still lack the money, equipment knowledge, editorial guidance or professional networks needed to complete and circulate a film. Patakha Pictures therefore combines financial support with sustained creative and technical assistance rather than treating a grant as a one-off payment.
How many filmmakers has Patakha Pictures supported?
In its October 2026 anniversary coverage, Patakha Pictures and SOC Films reported the following five-year outcomes:
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| Reported measure | Total | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Emerging filmmakers supported | 76 | Programme-reported figure in 2026 anniversary materials |
| Awards received by alumni work | More than 22 | Programme-reported total |
| Festival screenings worldwide | More than 100 | Programme-reported total |
These figures describe the programme’s own accounting in anniversary materials and are not presented as independently audited impact statistics. They nevertheless indicate a reach extending beyond training rooms: alumni films have entered international festival circuits and received recognition after production.
How does Claim the Frame work?
Claim the Frame is a five-month mentorship and funding programme run with the British Council Pakistan and the Scottish Documentary Institute. In 2026, eight women filmmakers from Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan worked in four creative pairs.
What support do fellows receive?
- Production funding to help each team develop and make its documentary.
- Weekly online mentoring across the five-month programme.
- An intensive in-person Edit Week in Karachi.
- Workshops covering storytelling, camera techniques, editing and other documentary-production skills.
The format gives participants repeated feedback during development and post-production, while the in-person week creates time for concentrated editorial decisions that are difficult to make through occasional online meetings.
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Who mentored the 2026 cohort?
Scottish Documentary Institute founder Noe Mendelle returned for a fifth time. Nadir Siddiqui, Huma Murad Shah, Maryam Ishani Thompson, Husain Qaizar and Sameer Khan added expertise in cinematography, production, journalism, editing and sound. The mix is intended to cover both the creative choices that shape a film and the practical decisions required to finish it.
What films came out of the 2026 Claim the Frame cohort?
The four paired projects presented in 2026 focused on distinct subjects, from sport and craft to climate risk and rural health:
| Filmmaker or subject | Documentary focus |
|---|---|
| Anum Shakoor | Her move into the male-dominated sport of tent pegging. |
| Climate, poverty and child marriage project | The relationship between climate change, poverty and child marriage in rural Sindh. |
| Bakht Ali | Camel-design artistry and life in the Cholistan Desert. |
| Lal Pari project | The legacy of Lal Pari, a retired healthcare worker and midwife, alongside continuing healthcare work in the remote Shimshal Valley. |
These subjects show the programme’s geographic and thematic range. Gender and access to traditionally male spaces sit alongside environmental pressure, cultural practice and the delivery of healthcare in isolated communities. Because the stories are rooted in participants’ own regions and relationships, the fellows retain a close connection to the people and places represented on screen.
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Why does the initiative matter for Pakistani documentary filmmakers?
Pakistan has no shortage of stories, but access to production resources and international audiences is uneven. Patakha Pictures addresses that gap by combining funding, mentorship, technical instruction and creative freedom. A filmmaker can receive help with camera practice or sound, for example, while still deciding which community, perspective and narrative structure the finished film should center.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy described the programme’s lesson this way: “Five years of Patakha Pictures have reaffirmed a fundamental belief: talent is universal, but opportunity is not.” British Council Pakistan Arts Director Laila Jamil similarly argued that the country needs “space, support and opportunities for more voices to be heard.” Their statements frame the initiative as an access intervention, not simply a talent contest.
Will Patakha Pictures open a permanent film centre in Karachi?
Obaid-Chinoy told Dawn that she hoped to establish a Patakha House in Karachi. The proposed space would allow filmmakers to meet, watch films, receive funding and find mentorship. The anniversary statement presents the same idea as a permanent place where the next generation can learn and collaborate.
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That is an ambition rather than an announced opening date or confirmed facility. If realised, a year-round base could extend the programme beyond individual cohorts by giving filmmakers regular access to screenings, peer exchange and advice between grant cycles.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should audiences expect from Patakha Pictures next?
The immediate evidence is the programme’s continuing cohort model: select filmmakers, pair them creatively, provide production money and mentoring, then support editing and public presentation. Its reported awards and festival screenings suggest that distribution remains an important measure of success, not an afterthought once a workshop ends.
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For viewers, the 2026 projects offer entry points into questions that are often underrepresented in international documentary programming: women entering male-dominated sports, climate-linked social pressure in rural Sindh, desert craftsmanship and healthcare in the Shimshal Valley. For filmmakers, the initiative represents a route to resources and professional guidance that may otherwise be concentrated in major urban or commercial productions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Patakha Pictures launched?
Patakha Pictures launched in 2022 as a sister initiative of SOC Films. Its October 2026 event was presented by the programme as its fifth-anniversary celebration.
Which organisations run Claim the Frame with Patakha Pictures?
The programme is run with the British Council Pakistan and the Scottish Documentary Institute. Their collaboration combines local access with documentary mentorship and international-facing expertise.
Where are the 2026 Claim the Frame filmmakers from?
The eight fellows came from Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan. They worked in four creative pairs during the five-month cycle.
What skills are taught in Patakha Pictures workshops?
The 2026 workshops covered documentary storytelling, camera techniques and editing, alongside other production skills. Weekly online mentoring and an in-person Edit Week added ongoing editorial support.
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