Sharmeen Obaid's Aagahi bags nomination at Cannes Lions International Fest

If she wins, this won't be the first time she's bringing an international trophy home.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s animated awareness series, Aagahi has been nominated at The 66th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Aagahi is the first Pakistani series to ever be nominated at Cannes Lion. The two-time Academy Award winner's series is a public service campaign which aims to educate women about their legal rights in Pakistan. It has been nominated for the Sustainable Development Goals Lions in the Gender Equality category.

“Aagahi is a campaign designed to create awareness in women so they are able to navigate the police and judicial system with confidence in Pakistan. The impact created in rural and urban communities through AAGAHI has been tremendous and we at SOC Films are delighted to be shortlisted for the Cannes Sustainable Development Goals award.” said Chinoy on her first Cannes Lions nomination.

In the past seven months, SOC Films have released short animated films in Urdu explaining the laws which affect women on topics such as: how to file an FIR, what does the law state on instances of domestic violence, divorce, cyber-crimes and inheritance and what is the procedure for reporting issues like these and who should be approached for help. One of Pakistan’s leading actresses, Aamina Sheikh has lent her voice for the series.

Each short-film was designed and produced by SOC Films in collaboration with Women Action Forum and covered the law, its interpretation and the safety that it provides to the victim. This also included the legislation, as stated in the Pakistan Penal Code, and the various case laws, which have been passed or revised in the recent years.

Over 30,000 pieces of creative and effective work from 89 countries, in 27 distinct creative disciplines, will be awarded and celebrated at the 66th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Cannes Lions is committed to campaigning for creativity as a powerful force for good in the world and has partnering with the UN to support the Sustainable Development Goals through a range of creative initiatives at the Festival.