Patakha Pictures, the filmmaking mentorship initiative founded by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, has announced an open call for the 2026 cycle of Claim the Frame, inviting women filmmakers across Pakistan to apply for structured funding and mentorship.
Since its launch in 2022, Patakha Pictures has supported 69 filmmakers whose work has screened at over 70 international festivals and earned more than 25 awards. The initiative was created to amplify women’s voices in cinema and to strengthen Pakistan’s independent documentary sector. In 2024 the programme temporarily expanded to include filmmakers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Newly Merged Districts, broadening access to underrepresented regions.
For its eighth edition, Patakha Pictures and SOC Films are partnering again with the Scottish Documentary Institute and the British Council to deliver Claim the Frame to women storytellers across the country. The programme will select four pairs of women filmmakers, each pair aged 18 or above, and requires a single joint application per pair.
The organisers are looking for bold, resilient teams ready to pursue short documentary projects that engage themes of women empowerment, art, identity, culture and music. Claim the Frame aims to support films that combine authentic storytelling with social impact potential.
Selected fellows will receive production funding and five months of structured mentorship, working closely with international mentors and the SOC Films team. The fellowship includes weekly online sessions, an in-person edit week in Karachi and culminates in a closing ceremony where fellows present their film trailers and meet industry professionals.
The 2026 fellowship runs from July to November, with final selections announced in June 2026. Applicants must commit to the full duration of the programme and submit their joint applications by the deadline of 20 March 2026. Applications should be emailed to patakhapictures@gmail.com. For the application form and further details visit https://bit.ly/PatakhaPictures-ClaimTheFrame-Applications.
Claim the Frame continues to offer an important platform for emerging Pakistani documentarians, pairing practical support with mentorship aimed at developing distinctive voices and festival-ready work.
