Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy unveils new polio documentary

Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is set to spotlight the women working on the front lines of

Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is set to spotlight the women working on the front lines of Pakistan’s fight against polio in her upcoming documentary, Across Every Doorway.

The film was announced by SOC Films on October 24 to mark World Polio Day. Scheduled for release in November 2026, it follows four women in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Islamabad whose work ranges from door-to-door vaccination campaigns to scientific testing for the poliovirus.

The documentary explores the difficulties faced by vaccination teams, including parental refusals, misinformation, community mistrust and safety concerns. It also highlights how health workers build relationships with families and local communities to ensure children receive life-saving polio drops.

“Behind every door is a family, a conversation, and a child whose future deserves to be protected,” Obaid-Chinoy said, explaining the importance of recognising women whose contributions often go unnoticed.

In Karachi, the film follows Fouzia Ahmed, an area supervisor with the World Health Organisation’s Polio Programme. She works alongside vaccination teams, visits households reluctant to immunise their children and supports colleagues who encounter resistance and verbal abuse during campaigns.

In Rawalpindi, Dr Shumaila Akbar oversees vaccination activities, monitors field teams and checks compliance with campaign standards. Her story also examines the challenges of balancing professional responsibilities with social expectations surrounding women’s roles.

The documentary turns to Peshawar to follow community health worker Laiba Ijaz, who works to reach children who might otherwise be missed during vaccination drives. Her responsibilities include visiting newborns and families who have recently moved into the area. The film also explores her personal struggles following her father’s illness, which created financial difficulties for her family.

In Islamabad, Dr Riqba Akhtar, a virology and immunology laboratory scientist, tests environmental and human samples for traces of poliovirus. Her work helps health authorities monitor the virus and guide efforts to contain its spread.

Across Every Doorway also highlights the importance of cooperation between health professionals, religious leaders and local officials in addressing public concerns and improving acceptance of vaccination.

Obaid-Chinoy is internationally recognised for documentaries that examine social inequality, women’s rights and human struggles. Her acclaimed works include Saving Face (2012), which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short, and A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (2016), which also received an Oscar in the same category.

She has won two Academy Awards and multiple Emmy Awards during her career. In 2012, she received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian honours, and was named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.

Her other projects include Song of Lahore and the animated 3 Bahadur film series, which helped establish her presence across documentary filmmaking and animated feature films.

With its focus on four women working in different parts of Pakistan, Across Every Doorway aims to bring greater attention to the people behind the country’s polio eradication efforts and the challenges involved in protecting every child from the disease.

The documentary is scheduled to premiere in November 2026.