'Never said Saving Face would not be shown in Pakistan'

Obaid-Chinoy, Junge say subjects were told beforehand, had signed legal releases.

Responding to accusations by the Acid Survivors Foundation Pakistan (ASF), directors of the Oscar-winning film Saving Face Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daniel Junge said they never promised that the film would not be broadcast in Pakistan.

According to a joint press release, the directors said the subjects of the documentary were told beforehand that Saving Face would be shown in Pakistan.

The ASF, which had cooperated on the film, is taking legal action against the producers as some survivors expressed fears of a backlash.

“We had no idea it would be a hit and win an Oscar. It’s completely wrong. We never allowed them to show this film in Pakistan,” said Naila Farhat, 22, who features fleetingly in the documentary.

Chinoy and Junge said that the acid-attack survivors featured in the documentary had signed legal releases. “The legal releases were presented to anyone who was part of the film and these were also made available in Urdu and fully explained to the subjects by the ASF themselves, precisely to ensure that there was no ambiguity and to maintain the highest standard of ethics on our part,” the press statement said.

The directors also said they never made financial commitments to the victims.