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Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy joins short film Don’t Be Late, Myra as executive producer
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Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy joins short film Don’t Be Late, Myra as executive producer

The film has qualified for the Academy Awards after a strong run at international film festivals.
Images Staff
14 Oct, 2025

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, director of Disney’s Ms Marvel, and winner of two Academy Awards for her work as a documentary filmmaker, has joined Pakistani-American filmmaker Afia Nathaniel’s hard-hitting short film Don’t Be Late, Myra as an executive producer, Variety reported on Monday.

The film follows 10-year old Myra (Innayah Umer) as she undertakes a treacherous journey home through the streets of Lahore. A survivor herself, Nathaniel confronts the taboo subject of child abuse head-on, with Myra encountering a cast of characters representing the many dangers posed to a little girl on the street.

The short stars Nida Ahsan as Myra’s bedridden mother, and Sumaira Saghir as her teacher. Mushtaq Ahmed, Munir Hussain, Shahid Riaz, Rizwan Riaz and Sohail Tariq play the many dangerous men she meets on her journey.

Don’t Be Late, Myra has had a particularly successful run at film festivals, winning awards at the Bergen International Film Festival in New Jersey, the Montreal International Film Festival, the Big Apple Film Festival in New York, the UK Asian Film Festival and the Woodstock Film Festival. This has earned it a spot in the race for an Academy Award, according to Variety.

“Myra’s story is both urgent and real,” Chinoy told Variety. “Don’t Be Late, Myra gives voice to the fears every young girl knows too well, while celebrating the courage it takes to survive and to be heard. To stand behind this film is not only a responsibility, but a joy. I am proud to join as executive producer and to help bring this vital story to the world.”

This isn’t Nathaniel’s first time at the Oscars either, her earlier film Dukhtar represented Pakistan at the 2015 Academy Awards. She went on to break barriers in the US as the first Pakistani-American woman to direct a US network drama when she worked on NBC Universal’s Chicago Med.

Comments

Laila Oct 14, 2025 12:53pm
This is going on my watch list. It does remind me of an American short film about a young woman's who loses her ride, and has no way to get home but walk for hours, and all the predator men she meets on that walk in dark hours. Sexual abuse of children is happening at alarming rate in Pakistan. Justice is denied, victims are either killed, intimidated into silence or forced to forgive and withdraw their case. Even at madrassas children are not safe. How long are we going to deny this and not hold accountable such corrupt people? I would love for some daring soul(s) to examine why this is so prevalent in Pakistan and particularly why adult males are target male children. It seems, qoum e loot has resurrected in Pakistan. The culture of taboo and censorship under false guise of izzat must stop. It's not resolving things. It's enabling the predators. Also I really recommend watching Nathaniel's older film, DUKHTAR. This is the cinema we should be supporting.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Oct 14, 2025 02:34pm
Welcome to the club and the clubhouse.
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Khan iftikhar Oct 14, 2025 08:12pm
Just one Question How many Filims she made on US/Canada Homles. ? The crime gangs in Newyourk. The I Phone and High price care robbery in London. They award her Just to Disgrace Pakistan
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x Oct 15, 2025 11:49am
@khan iftikhar Why would Sharmeen make films on those things? She's Pakistani and will make films on Pakistan and its issues. Filmmakers from those countries can make films on the homeless, crime etc
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Laila Oct 15, 2025 02:52pm
@Khan Iftikhar Why are you trying to shift attention and focus from Pakistan? Ms Chinoy is a Pakistani documentary maker. Naturally she will explore topics close to home and relevant for Pakistanis. If you REALLY care as much about homeless in US, iPhone robberies in the UK, you can find already existing documentaries on that by American and British documentary makers But let us be honest, you prefer that we don't talk about the issues common in Pakistan and effecting Pakistanis because you probably think it makes Pakistan look bad. Unfortunately truth does not care about image or false honor. As a Muslim you should know that it is our duty to raise issues in our society and find solutions rather than hide them. Sexual abuse of children is rampant in Pakistan and due to a backwards culture of so-called honor, shame, taboo and stigma, most go unreported. Don't you think we should care about our kids and their safety? Denial is not an option. With all due respect, o think your mentality is problematic and a disservice to our victims. The real disgrace is pretending these issues don't exist. That's what abusers are able to get away with it. Clean up this problem and the disgrace will lessen. Don't attack those exposing the ugly truth and reality of our society. Stop this "what about other countries".
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