Famous Pakistani cameraman Haider Ali was awarded the Rory Peck Award 2015 in a grand ceremony in London on Wednesday.
The Rory Peck is an international NGO based in London and is dedicated to supporting and assisting freelance news-gatherers worldwide. The award honours the work of freelance cameramen in news and current affairs.
Ali won the award for his camerawork in the documentary ‘Pakistan’s Hidden Shame’ which captures how thousands of vulnerable young boys across Pakistan have become the victims of paedophile predators.
Impressed by Haider’s sympathetic, unobtrusive camerawork as the documentary reveals the abuse of underage boys in the urban centres of the country, one of the judges said, “This film made a big impact on me, the camera just quietly letting people talk.”
“It was sympathetic and unobtrusive, I felt we were with those kids,” he added.
While another judge said, “Shocking and powerful.”
Ali’s camerawork was also commended by judges for its unbiased approach. ”The camerawork is quite astonishing because it’s not judgmental at all.”
“It is a powerful piece of visual journalism.”
The night’s four awards were presented to freelancers from northern Iraq, Pakistan and Syria.
