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Pakistani filmmaker Shehzad Hameed's 'Kasur's Lost Children' wins award at New York Festivals
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Pakistani filmmaker Shehzad Hameed's 'Kasur's Lost Children' wins award at New York Festivals

The documentary is based on Pakistan's biggest child sexual abuse scandal
Images Staff
Updated 27 Apr, 2017

Pakistani filmmaker Shahzad Hameed's documentary Kasur's Lost Children has won an award at the New York Festivals.

The documentary, which is based on Pakistan's biggest child sexual abuse scandal, has won the Silver Award in the Human Concerns Category 2017.

The documentary is a 48-minute investigation that follows one activist on his journey to bring justice to the victims. The documentary was screened as part of the third season of Channel NewsAsia's award-winning investigative series Undercover Asia.

"It feels great that through this win, awareness regarding child abuse is being created as this is the only way of fighting against such a heinous and hidden crime in societies," says filmmaker Shahzad Hameed to Images.

Screengrab from Kasur's Lost Children
Screengrab from Kasur's Lost Children

This is Shahzad's second documentary that has been honoured at New York Festivals. He has previously won a Gold Medal in the Best Documentary: Community Portraits category for Flight of the Falcons in 2016. Flight of the Falcons featured Sister Zeph and her struggles to give young girls primary education.

While Shahzad works in Singapore, many of his works focus on Pakistan and its people.

Says Shahzad, "Even though I moved to Singapore years ago, the stories, characters, plots we find in Pakistan are complex, difficult but extremely compelling. The heroism of our activists, the courage of our women and ability of Pakistanis fighting back against the tide is so inspiring for filmmakers like me, forcing me to keep coming back to my country."

After yet another victory, Shahzad reveals his future plans.

"My next project will take me to Afghanistan where I'm aiming to deal with the complexities of terrorism and IS in a beautiful country ripped apart by a civil war."

Could this be a third award-winning film in the making? We feel so!

Comments

IMTIAZ ALI KHAN Apr 27, 2017 02:45pm
Thank you, thank you and thank you for exposing this family who have cause pain to so many children in Kasur. It's time for this primitive behavior to end. India and Pakistan needs to wake up this mindset of Beef killing/Blasphemy killing/So called improper clothing killing/Rape killing/Mob mentality justice etc., all that needs to end once in for all in my most beautiful Pakistan the home of the great Indus Valley Civilization and India the land of Mahavira the great. IndoPak Blood Brothers 4 Life!
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M. Siddique Apr 27, 2017 05:17pm
Do we know if justice has been done in the case of Kasur children?
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Sami Apr 27, 2017 05:19pm
Every though I live in Singapore I find Pakistan's social issues best for my gora audience to win popularity and lots of money. Singapore has no stories to tell :)
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SQ Apr 27, 2017 06:10pm
Our government did nothing for those children. I hope that like Chinoy's documentary that compelled government to pass albeit-weak laws to counter honor killings, the attention around this documentary will force them to take action too.
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Kin Apr 27, 2017 06:27pm
Shabaash! Perfect contribution to the country's tarnished image. Why not do our dirty laundry in full public view and gain recognition?
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Kaveri sharma Apr 28, 2017 12:52am
@Kin sometimes it's necessary. Extra attention pressurise government to take action against the culprits. I understand as a patriot you feel bad but I think we should expose the situation to attract government action on these issues. We should do everything so that victims can get justice.
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Kaveri sharma Apr 28, 2017 12:53am
@IMTIAZ ALI KHAN there are very few instance when I agree with Pakistani. I second you.
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Malamal Apr 28, 2017 01:10am
Bravvvo
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Akil Akhtar Apr 28, 2017 04:13am
Why do all these pwople try to gain popularity only promoting anything bad about Pakistan...
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omair Apr 28, 2017 09:36am
I don't know him and I don't know his agenda, but I do know that this problem exists and it has to be brought up. And when you don't let people speak up in this country, they would would find ways.
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Asif Apr 28, 2017 02:30pm
As if nothing is happening in Singapore? Mate, look around and see what kind of stories you can find, don't tarnish our image. We have already suffered a lot.
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aslam shaikh1 Apr 28, 2017 03:16pm
Recipe for instant success.
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IMTIAZ ALI KHAN Apr 28, 2017 09:50pm
@Kin Every country has problems and in this day and age we can't hide them from US to Europe to Africa and Australasia you name it. If some1 talks bad about Pakistan and it's not that they don't have issues. There is a bad image aspect projection yes that is for sure but now more and more people are aware of the issue and if these criminals get punishment with swift justice, next time criminals have to think twice before committing heinous acts. Sadly with some bad a lot of good comes with exposing these people. Life is a balance. Shanti :) Love from Pakistan to the world.
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Osman Apr 29, 2017 04:01am
Our callousness toward the most urgent problems in our midst allows such vultures to cash in on them,
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Jack jones Apr 29, 2017 06:58am
@Kin Instead of congratulating him you are bashing him. He is telling the truth and his documentary is meant to expose a prevalent issue in Pakistan. Hopefully, this will result in the authorities punishing the people committing the crimes. Additionally, he is getting world wide recognition and he is from Pakistan. Way to go Shehzad!! We are very proud of you.
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