New York City, NY - The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) works around the world to inform and foster dialogue amongst critical stakeholders on key global issues. We do this through our programs with the U.S. Congress and the United Nations, engaging young people, supporting cultural diplomacy, and working on humanitarian programs.
We are pleased to announce that HDI film program alumnus Jawad Sharif was named a “National Geographic Explorer” at the organization’s annual summit in Los Angeles on February 8, 2024. National Geographic bestows this honor on those groundbreaking scientists, conservationists, educators, and storytellers who are curious about our planet and passionate about helping make it better. Jawad is one of the few Pakistanis who have been given this honor. He was recognized for his exploration of the themes of social change and human rights. His projects focus on reviving the suppressed cultural and Indigenous identities of Pakistan. In the past 15 years, Jawad has pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling by documenting stories about the rights of folk musicians, high-altitude porters, climate migrants, and marginalized communities. His current film project, Mohana, will document the struggle for the survival of a diminishing Indigenous community living on boathouses on a freshwater lake for centuries.
Jawad Sharif participated in HDI’s 2016/17 UCLA Film Training Program for Pakistani filmmakers. Our film programs are designed for emerging filmmakers and are coordinated by award-winning U.S. filmmaker Mr. Bill Megalos. The 2016/17 program was funded by the U.S. Embassy Islamabad. Films made during this program were exhibited at international film festivals.
Mr. Sharif said, “I am incredibly thankful to have been supported by the Humpty Dumpty Institute and the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. It allowed me to learn about the practical skills and process of the documentary film genre and enabled me to work on my independent film projects. I am honored to have worked with Bill Megalos, a remarkable mentor who allowed me the intellectual freedom to experiment and explore different ideas.”