No more shhhhhhhhhhhhhes! No more censorship!

Media serves as the eyes of the people; do not blindfold the people!
By Mohammad Amin Wahidi
with editorial assistance from Nathan Hartle and Robert Maier

I write this because I no longer want to keep quiet about threats, violence and intimidation practiced against journalists in Afghanistan. We Afghans have a proverb that says, “Keep quiet until the knife reaches the bone.” The knife has reached my bone; I no longer want to conceal the censorship that journalists and media activists face in Afghanistan.
I was a victim of these threats when I worked at Ariana Television Network in Kabul. I left my job as a program host and producer in 2005, keeping quiet about the intimidation but working behind-the-scenes to promote freedom of speech in the media.

The free press is as necessary as oxygen for the suffering people of my land. It is their civic right to be informed. Reports show that the number of threats and attacks on media activists in Afghanistan has grown annually since 2005. Below is an overview of threats and violence against members of the media in Afghanistan.

Arrests of Journalists

Kamran Meerhazar journalist and editor in chief of www.KabulPress.org a controversial socio- political website who was arrested by CID Afghanistan ( photo from www.kabulpress.org)

One such action was the recent arrest and imprisonment of blogger Kamran Meerhazar by the Central Intelligence Department of Afghanistan. Though released after five days, Meerhazar has since received death threats by email. Prior to this, a journalist named Asif Nang was arrested by the Central Intelligence Department and accused of being the agent of a foreign government. Also, filmmaker Waheed Nazeer has received anonymous threats by email after screening his war documentary “My Kabul.”

A few months ago after broadcasting Afghanistan Attorney General’s interview, Tolo TV was surrounded by some two hundred policemen ordered by the Attorney General for why they have misinterpreted his interview. They arrested some of Tolo TV Senior Staff including broadcast director for some hours and then released after beating them up. Later on there were many public objections by the people to this misbehavior of Attorney General.

Murders of Journalists


Zakia Zaki a female radio journalist killed in June 06 2007 in Parwan Province ( photo from www.dawn.com)


Zakia Zaki's death body mourned by her famlity members and relatives ( photo from img.dailymail.co.uk)

Recent deadly incidents include the murders of female radio journalist Zakia Zaki in Parwan Province on June 6 2007, and Shamshad TV anchor Shekiba Sanga Amaj at her home May 31, 2007. In both cases the perpetrators are unknown.


Shekaiba Sanga Amaj Anchor for Shamshad TV who was shot by gun at her home ( photo from BBC persian)

Another journalist, Ajmal Naqshbandi, originally kidnapped along with Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, was killed by the Taliban on April 8, 2007 after 40 days in captivity. Mastrogiacomo was released after the Afghan government released two Taliban prisoners under pressure from the Italian and possibly the US governments. The Afghan government refused to negotiate with the Taliban on behalf of the Afghan journalist.

Ajmal Naqshbadni, Afghan journalist, killed by the Taliban after 45 days in hostage ( photo from http://www.lcn.canoe.com/)
The statistics and the reports show that the serious threats and attacks on media activists in Afghanistan are increasingly growing annually since 2005.


Journalists Imprisoned

( photo from www.coj.org)

Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, a writer and secular clergyman, was sentenced to two years in prison in Oct 2005 for his writings about Islamic theory.

Meer Hossain Mahdavi, another print journalist, was condemned to death for his article “The Holy Fascists.” The article was an overview of the Islamic Empire from its origins to the present.. Mahdavi was released after international media organizations pressured government officials.

Meer Hussain Mahdavi the pioneer victim of censorship and presure on media in Afghanistan ( photo by www.kabulnath.de)

Threats and Violence Against Afghan Media Workers

Media and media activists, seeking acceptance as the fourth pillar of the emerging democracy in Afghanistan, are instead being suppressed by pressure from both the government and armed anti-government groups. Bullying currently being directed at the Afghan media has many causes. Five dark years of Taliban rule weakened the role of women in all areas of society.

For three years various injustices have been committed against members of the media, beginning with the case of Meer Hussain Mahdawi. Then, there was the May 18, 2005 killing of television anchor Shaima Rezayee, who was the first modern female TV anchor for music shows in Afghanistan.


Shaima Rezayee the first woman TV anchor victim who worked for Tolo and was assassinated in Kabul

Extremists and fundamentalists, fearing the influence of Western culture on traditional Islamic values, have reacted against the media outlets they perceive to be sources of Western propaganda.

Tolo TV the leading private television channel in Afghanistan

Threats of violence have led two television video jockeys, Shekaib Isar and Jamshid Matin, to flee the country. Their modern style included bright clothing and different haircuts, having fun and making jokes on camera. Their cheerful personas and popularity with the youth made them a target of conservative Islamists, who feared any Western influence. They fled Afghanistan, but hold a special place in the hearts of many as pioneers of the free media in Afghanistan.

Shekaib Isar, video jockey for Tolo TV, who fled the country after being threatened

Jamshid Matin, video jockey for ATN in Kabul, who fled Afghanistan under threats. (Photo from http://www.artincommunity.org/) ( photo from http://www.artincommunity.org/)

Afghan media transitioned from a tool and propaganda machine for the newly formed national government to an institution willing to challenge that government. Following the example of the Western media, Afghan journalists sought to expose corruption in the system and administration of the government. Their new direction and openness to Western influence made them enemies inside and outside the government.
However, as the new independent TV and radio programs rapidly grew in popularity, Some of Afghanistan’s leaders felt threatened by the freely-speaking media and began to force limitations upon it—with laws and beyond the laws through secret threats and anonymous violence. They thought maybe their power would be diminished. They wanted to be the primary power, because they benefited from an uninformed population.
Not only the executive branch of the government, but sometimes the parliament also had misbehaviors against the journalists.
Since Zang-e Khatar (danger alarm) a popular satire show on Tolo TV broadcasted some videos of MPs sleeping in plenary session of the parliament, it increased the anger of the legislatures thereafter some of the journalists were beaten up by the MPs body guards and or Parliamentary security forces.



Afghan media have also served as propagandists and publicity outlets for armed opposition groups and terrorists. Since 2005, almost every television and radio station in the country has allocated airtime to coverage of Taliban attacks. This coverage has empowered the Taliban and damaged the public’s confidence in the strength of their government.

While the number of media outlets in the country is increasing, the government does not promise them safety. Journalists and other members of Afghanistan’s media have struggled and gained experience through five years of ups and downs.
This is where the real work begins for the Afghan media, if they dare to step forward firmly and without fear. They are the eyes of the people, and the people know this. Hopefully one day the government and antigovernment groups will come to know it as well.
It is urgent that journalists and governments around the world know the truth about the dangerous situation of young Afghan media workers, and speak out on their behalf.

From Kabul to Venice Message of Brotherhood

Two young Afghan Filmmakers are accepted for EIUC Summer School 2007 in Venice Italy

EIUC Summer School on Cinema and Human Rights

Mohammad Amin Wahidi Director of Deedenow Cinema and Mohammad Mehdi Zafari a member of Deedenow Cinema, two young Afghan filmmakers are accepted to participate from Afghanistan for the program EIUC Summer School on Cinema and Human Rights which is held from August 23 to Sep 12 2007 in Venice Italy.

Mohammad Amin Wahidi’s profile

Mohammad Amin Wahidi Director of Deedenow Cinema

Mohammad Amin Wahidi is a young TV producer- presenter and filmmaker who worked for Ariana Television Network (ATN) in Kabul for more than 18 months and ran three popular shows on ATN; Chashm-e- Sheshayee (cinema program) Sorotaal show (music program) and Let’s Learn together (English learning program)

He has quitted appearing on ATN because of some security reasons after there were some serious threats against the journalists and media activists in Afghanistan when his best friend Jamshed Matin a VJ in ATN fled the country because of some threats to his life, but Amin Wahidi is still busy with radio and television programs indirectly while doing his research on cinema especially Afghan Cinema.

After quitted appearing on ATN screen, Amin Wahidi started to work with Farda Radio for a short time as writer but working with a radio did not satisfy him then he started to write film critics for Noorin TV a new Established TV broadcasts from Kabul Afghanistan for a few days but it still was not satisfying him then he started to write critics on television shows and films for himself on his bloggers and established a filmmaking production as a result of his efforts Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production ®Afghanistan is born at the end of 1383 and beginning of 1384 receiving licenses from Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan and Afghanistan Investment Support Agency.

Mohammad Amin Wahidi goes to night shift Cinema and Theatre Department of Fine Arts Faculty- Kabul University and does personal researches on cinema and television.

Special Courses attended:

- A course on history and evolution of cinema -Kabul Film Organization
- Acting course- Foundation for young Afghan Filmmakers
- Acting course- Academy of Art and cinematic Education
- Digital filmmaking – Academy of Art and cinematic Education
- Screenplay writing skills Academy of Art and cinematic Education

For the moment he is the head of International Relations and a member of board of directors of Academy of Art and Cinematic Education in Kabul while he owns his private filmmaking production called Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production ® Afghanistan that acts as The Center for International Coordination of young Afghan Filmmakers” in Kabul Afghanistan.

Since 2003 it is almost four years that he is working with Film productions such as Kabul Film, Arman Film, Bamyan Film, Foundation for young Afghan Filmmakers, Razi Film House and Academy of Art and Cinematic Education in Kabul and mostly he has been writing screenplays and sketching preproduction story boards for their films.

Mohammad Amin Wahidi has recently directed his first short fiction titled “Treasure in the ruins” in Kabul and wishes to take it to different international film festivals of the world as a souvenir from his country Afghanistan.

Treasure in the ruins AKA Homa Amin Wahidi's first short fiction

The film is about a little Afghan curious girl who decides to live in her imaginations rather than her real life. Homa is a seven years old Afghan girl who looks for treasures in the ruins of Kabul but faces with items which are symbols of war and …..

Having a big ambition, Mohammad Amin Wahidi plans to produce more Afghan films in Afghanistan to depict and introduce Afghans and Afghanistan to the world with a different vision through lenses of cinema.
He has two other films to shoot the soon he finds investors for; one is “The keys to paradise” about 24 hours of life of an Afghan Mullah Suicide bomber who at the end does not want suicide himself for some reasons and the other one is “The great desire” about a young shepherded who desires to go to school but can not.

This was only one side of Mohammad Amin Wahidi’s profile, while he has been working most of his official time as English Instructor, English Translator/ interpreter, Director of an Educational Institution, administrative assistant and School principal assistant.

Since 2002 when he returned back to his home from Pakistan, along side working and cooperating with filmmaking organizations and productions he has been employed in different civilian and military organizations in the mentioned positions.

Having the membership of Filmmakers Union of Afghanistan in addition to his different responsibilities, currently he is working as an English Translator in the position of program office in NDI (National Democratic Institute) a non profit organization working with the parliament and provincial councils of Afghanistan to expand and strengthen Democracy in this country.

Mohammad Amin Wahidi is getting prepared for The EIUC Summer School on Cinema and Human Rights in Venice Italy to have a nice presentation about Cinema and Human Rights situation in Afghanistan and wishes that his short film “Treasure in the ruins” would have a humanitarian message for the participants of this program.

Future plans:

- Produce 25 short fiction films with different themes in Afghanistn in the 2008- 2009

- Expand his Filmmaking production internationally
- Deserve the honor to be a linking bridge between Afghan cinema and cinema of the world
- Launch his private television channel in Kabul Afghanistan that helps filmmakers and cinema activists of the country
- Produce and direct at least one film per year
- Keep Supporting Academy of Art and Cinematic Education Afghanistan, Razi Film House and similar useful organizations in Afghanistan

Wish you all the best.

And now let’s see what Mehdi Zafari is like

Mohammad Mehdi Zafari’s Profile

Mohammad Mehdi Zafari, young Afghan documentary filmmaker

He is documentary filmmaker, a camera man in Center for Contemporary Arts of Afghanistan, student in department of directing cinema and theatre in Fine Arts faculty of Kabul University.
Recently Mehdi Zafari’s heart was beating for a few days until the result of 2nd International Documentary and Short Fiction Film Festival of Kabul was announced.
He had a 15 minutes documentary called “Leema” which depicts the family of a blind Afghan man who live in Kabul Afghanistan. Mehdi was expecting may be an award though, but he only received an appreciation letter.
His first work experience was in 2003 in Kabul, as assistant director for a number of Afghan Directors, for instance Razi Mohebi.
In 2004 he joined the center for contemporary arts of Afghanistan (CCAA) and earned its membership. He got experiences while cooperating with this center to make number of short films (video art).

Trainings and special courses attended:

· Contemporary Arts workshop In faculty of Fine Arts with Canadian lecturer for 2 weeks
· Directing in cinema with the American director for 1 month
· Documentary film of cinema with Goethe Institute and French Central Culture for 3 month
· Journalism and Human Rights in Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission

Experience list:

Participated in a workshop conducted by Mohsen Makhmalbaf for Afghan filmmakers for a month in Kabul in the year 2006.
Participated in a 3 month workshop for documentary films by French trainer (Ateliers Varan, from Paris in Kabul) at the end of which he made a short documentary with 15 minutes run time called Leema .(2006)
Participated in “Asb-e-do Paw” (The Two Legged Horse) a film by Samira Makhmalbaf and written by Mohsen Makhmalbaf filmed in Afghanistan 2007) as assistant director which is in post production now.

Future plans:

Making artistic films according to Asian cinema methods
Attracting public attention towards artistic cinema
Finding more viewers for cinema in Afghanistan
Using the power of cinema and making films for the reconstruction of the destroyed culture in Afghanistan.

Who Stops me?!!

Who Stops me?!!

Mohammad Amin Wahidi Director Deedenow Cinema

Launch of Deedenow Website is another achievement.

Preview of Deedenow Cinema website

Now you can click http://www.deedenowcinema.com/ or http://www.aminwahidi.com/ to read more than what we have in our bloggers:

Deedenow Cinema is in progress day by day. The recent achievement after “Treasure in the ruins” we have is our website which is now launched and you can read in it more than only about Deedenow.

Before launching the website Deedenow Cinema had two bloggers one in Dari and one in English (the present one) through which reflected most of its thoughts and activities.

www.aminwahidi4u.blogfa.com Preview of Deedenow Cinema Dari Blogger

We focus dramatic arts and the free media in our website; cinema, television, radio, printing press and the updates of women’s progress in these arenas in Afghanistan.

Amin Wahidi Director of Deedenow Cinema is strongly committed to do more for Deedenow Cinema and more than only Deedenow for the others interested in Afghan cinema and media and press.

In our website soon you will be able to read about: An introduction of Deedenow itself such as;

About us
Our Products
Our current projects
Ready to shoot screenplays
Contact us

The Updates from Deedenow: Contains the latest we have done or latest things being done in fields of media and cinema of Afghanistan.

Free Media Reports: Here we reflect all about the media and press activists such as reporters, journalists, show presenters, TV producers etc who work in Afghanistan.

Tele & Vision: Television makes a big part of our lives therefore I have to write about the programs, I have to write scripts for the programs of the others and I have to make my own shows for televisions I work with. This part of the website contains: My own shows, Skills for producing TV shows, Programming consultancy, Weekly critics on the TV programs (of Afghanistan), The best shows of the week and People’s opinions (in Afghanistan) on television channels.

Afghan Cinema: Contains history of cinema in Afghanistan, introduction of the Governmental Department of Afghan Films, a database of Afghan Films produced up to now, a database of Afghan Filmmakers and actors, introduction of Private Afghan Filmmaking productions and articles on Afghan Cinema written by different authors.

Cinema and Theatre Schools in Afghanistan: Links of and Information about Fine Arts Faculty Kabul University, Academy of Art and Cinematic Educations and Governmental Department of Afghan Films

Talks and Interviews: We Interview with Afghan Cinema Activists about their latest activities.

Film Critics: Deedenow Cinema, Academy of Art and Razi Film House have film screening events followed by a friendly film critics table every Friday in Academy of Art and cinematic Education and those film critics are being reflected in this part of the site.

Your articles: In this filed external articles are accepted from different writers on cinema, media and press of Afghanistan.

Our partner organizations and productions: You will see here which organizations have partnership with us.

Available human resource for external jobs: Contains a database of filmmakers, artists and film industry activists who are ready to fill a job or serve on contract.

The Hazaras of Afghanistan: This part contains history of their origin, culture, heroes and famous figures and much other information on Hazaras of Afghanistan.

Photo gallery: Contains photos from Deedenow activities and other interesting photos.

Corner of my heart: This is a place like the corner of heart for the Director of Deedenow cinema and contains Mohammad Amin Wahidi’s very personal writings on different subjects.

The ever lasting tunes: Contains information, interviews and biographies of Afghan musicians and singers.

External links: Here we provide you the most important and useful links of Afghan websites and blogs on different fields.

We wish all the readers will enjoy visiting http://www.deedenowcinema.com/ and assist as with their comments, opinions and or critics they have on the articles and issues raised in our website. we congratulate our website to all the people interested in Afghan media and Cinema.

Wish you all success and prosperity.

Mohammad Amin Wahidi,
Director of Deedenow Cinema

Deedenow Cinema presents its first short fiction

“Treasure in the ruins” is in post production!

Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production and Razi Film House have been lately busy with the project of the short fiction “Treasure in the ruins” Amin Wahidi’s first experience in directing short fiction.
This short film was first titled “Homa” and then “I am hungry mom” and now when it is in post production it has different title “Treasure in the ruins”.
This year we planed to produce it in March but it was delayed due to some technical problems we faced.

Amin Wahidi on the set, directing "Treasure in the ruins"

After completion and revision of the screenplay, the pre- production of this short film including location selection, casting, coordination and all issues took about a week and the shooting took eight days in Kabul and its suburbs and now the film is in post production while Razi Film House technically plays a significant role to this project of Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production.
The screenplay is written by Amin Wahidi and it is finally directed by him.
It is to say that in the beginning it was planed to be produced incorporation with Academy of Art and Cinematic Education but these days Academy of Art and Cinematic Education is busy with their cinema course.

It is very difficult to make a film even a short one in Afghanistan

The story of this film is about a small girl who is looking for treasures in the ruin buildings of Kabul after hearing the tales of treasures form her sick mother; poverty, hunger, ruins and the war affected children are focused on in this short film.

posters for "Treasure in the ruins"

Film information:
Film title: Treasure in the ruins
Subject: Explore of a seven year old Afghan girl, who is looking for the treasures in the ruin houses in Afghanistan based on the legend she has heard from her sick mother that “treasures are in the ruins”.
Screenplay writer: Mohammad Amin Wahidi
Director: Mohammad Amin Wahidi
Length: 20 minutes
Format: digital video
Language: Dari (Persian)
Producer: Deed-e-now Cinema Production / Razi Film House
Production year: 2007
Status: Post- Production

lack of resources to design sets for our films

“Treasure in the ruins”
(The story of a curious little girl in the ruins of Afghanistan)

Synopsis:
Homa is a seven year old Afghan girl who lives with her mother and her brother. Her father has been disappeared during the Taliban regime and they know nothing about him since then. Half a day Homa goes to school and half a day she weaves carpet at home with her brother Homayoon. Carpet is the only income for their livelihood though her mother is infected with tuberculosis because of weaving carpet for years and years.
At nights her mother tells her different tales and legends and hearing them Homa goes to sleep. One night her mother tells her the legend of the poor boy and the treasure an ancient traditional tale. After she hears this legend from her sick mother, Homa goes to live far away from her real life and live in her imaginations. She decides to look for and find out the treasures in the ruins of the town to cure her mother with.
Finally she faces with different things the remainders of the years of wars when she finds different old and broken items from the ruin houses and buildings each of which is the symbols of different mementos and different stories at the end her mother dies and Homa .....

Amin Wahidi explaining the scene to the crew

Crew and cast:
Sound man:
Light man:
Set designer: Hamid Ali Zada
Production assistant: Mehdi Zafari
Cameraman: Razi Mohebi
Editor:
Casting director: Sohaila Mohebi
Music by:
Executive Producer: Razi Mohebi
Assistant Director:
Screenplay writer & Director: Mohammad Amin Wahidi

Amin Wahidi the director with Asifa and Azizullah two child actors

Azizullah and Asifa two main characters

Aqela Rezayee has had roles in three films of Makhmalbaf Film House

Azizullah Jafari plays the role of Homa's brother Homayoon

Actors and Actresses:
Aqela Rezayee as the Mother
Asifa Abdul Hussain as Homa
Aziz Jafari as Homayoon
Ms Hussaini as school teacher
Ramin as a vendor boy
Metra Wahidi as Azada
Saiema Jafari as Fatima
Abdullah Jafari as the passenger
Somaya Jafari as the wood collector girl
Fahima Wahidi as the second wood collector girl
Police officers of district seventh police station

Why this subject?!

Afghanistan is a country that has been under the focus of different counties of international community and foreign aids and this focus has been very widely spreaded out in the media and press of the world after the disaster of September 11th 2001. From the eye of a filmmaker the very important part of the focus of international community in this country is the very bottom layer of the society, or the hungry bare feet people of the citizens of the country. How these aids have affected the lives of these low class citizens of the society it is very important.

Despite of all these aids, reconstructions and propagandas there are still people looking for their daily food, there are still people dying of hunger and very dangerous diseases they faced with because of poverty and there are under age children still being forced to work to feed the families who have lost their guardian in the civil war and there are still ruined house across the country even the capital city of the country, Kabul. And there still four things that are very obvious even for a foreign visitor to this country and they are: Poverty, hunger, ruins and orphan children who beg or work on the roads.

As per the geological surveys being conducted in this country, the available underground minds and minerals are enough at least to feed the people and to help them in their livelihood, but when they all be extracted and be used for the well of the poor citizens god knows!

This is a question of young and old people of Afghanistan that where do these foreign aids go? How will this aids and assistances affect the lives of poor people of Afghanistan? In this story Homa a seven year old girl who has lost her father during the Taliban, is exploring the ruins of her country looking for treasures as has heard a legend from her sick mother about it; “The treasures are in the ruins”. Then she faces with some other realities and truths!
It is to say that after completion this film will be sent to the national and international film festivals.

Future plans:
After this short film “The keys to Paradise” and “The great desire” are the second and third screenplays which are also written by Mohammad Amin Wahidi will be produced by Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production ® Afghanistan.
“The keys to paradise” is about an Afghan suicide bomber who at the last minutes decides not to suicide himself. “The keys to paradise” depicts the last 24 hours of life of an Afghan suicide bomber Mullah who in the last minute decides no to suicide himself for some humanitarian visions and imaginations he founds.
“The great desire” is the story of a young shepherd whose greatest desire is to be a school student when he sees school students of his age pass by him every day. He makes every effort to at least hold a bag of a school student for a moment to feel himself instead of him.

Wish success for the interested productions / individuals who want to invest on our future film projects in Afghanistan.

An overview of the Afghan Cinema

Cinema in Afghanistan; old enough but not mature yet
(By Mohammad Amin Wahidi)

The most significant changes brought to Afghanistan through transitional peace process during the last five years; are undoubtedly the freedom of speech and free environment for emerging of private television channels and private filmmaking productions.
In renovation of the country, among all, the trend to give more freedom to media as the fourth pillar of government powers has been visible to some extend, although there were challenges and obstacles on the way of this process.

Ariana cinema theatre building reconstructed by the French

Currently there are seven private television channels in Afghanistan

This process has not only been involving the men but simultaneously the women have also been taking a notable part in it.
During the last five years women tend to be seen in different areas including cinema and film industry, working together with the men.
These new changes take place in a situation when a bad image of cinema is introduced to people and cinema is imagined to be a picture of dancing and singing a half naked men and women by the most people which still makes it difficult for women to work in cinema and film industry and appear on screens.

If we turn the page of history as a reference we see that the first professional Afghan feature film by the name of “love and friendship” was made in the year 1946 which shows that cinema has a history of 60 years in Afghanistan but why were we not successful to use it and develop it over years.
Obviously there are many reasons for why cinema is not popular and successful among the people of Afghanistan; low level of literacy, influence of fundamentalist and extremist figures on general opinion, low general knowledge, poor economy, overshadowing of Indian Cinema on Afghans which create a negative image of cinema for the people and lack of governmental support to cinema as a part of cultural reconstruction programs are the main reasons for why the Afghan Cinema has not been successful and popular yet.

The history shows that the first idea of using cinema as an entertainment and as a tool for explaining of the programs of the government to the people in Afghanistan was raised when the progressive king Ghazi Amanullah Khan initiated to build cinema theaters and encouraged theatre plays and film projections beginning with participation of the royal family in the events as part of his social progression programs in picnic places and new built cinema theaters in the 1920s that is why the early generation of our filmmakers and cinema activists have started their work with theatre and then have come to cinema.

Engineer Latif Ahmadi President of Afghan films

The actual idea of developing a film industry in the country has come when the first Afghan feature film was made in the late 1940s by the help of an Indian Studio which was then followed by some other feature films.
After the idea of an actual film industry was raised it took about twenty years until the government moved a step forward and established a department called Afghan Films in the year 1968 by the help of US government with a gap of two decades after production of the first Afghan feature film.

Seddiq Barmak director of Osama

Thereafter, in the 1970s some efforts were made to excel this new born industry but still the general trend was to use cinema as a tool in the hand of government for its own propagandas therefore it was not free and popular.
In the late 1970s some foreign film projects such as Indian and American film projects such as Horsemen 1971 came to Afghanistan which was a really good opportunity for the immature Afghan cinema activists to learn from them and to make future contacts with them.
The government still continued to have cinema in its hand and only supported the films that were in their favor therefore a dependant cinema was born; as a result any changes and problems the government faced it directly effected the cinema and film industry.

Dr. Abdul Wahid Nazari director, former president of Afghan films

Malik Shafeyee famous documentary filmmaker

Atiq Rahimi filmmaker director of Ash and dust

Ali Mohammadi President of Academy of Art and Cinematic Education

On the other hand the cultural and political relations with India opened a path for their films to come to Afghanistan. In these years many youth showed interest to cinema and a few more films were produced by the government supports which are still popular among the people.

In the continuity of these efforts, Afghan private productions such as; Naseer Films, Shafaq Films and Ariana films established slowly on, to make films and train the youth with cinematic techniques which attracted many of youth on that time towards film industry.

1980s are known as the golden years of cinema of Afghanistan when the government already felt the importance of cinema and got advantages from film industry for its purposes on the other hand a few more Indian and western film projects came to Afghanistan while at the same time some short term and long term scholarships in cinema faculty were given to Afghans by India, Russia and some East European countries.

As a result more films were made in the 1980s and it was hoped that Afghan film industry was going to boost thereafter.
But all things changed differently in the early 1990s when the communists were overthrown by the Mujahedeen fighters and filmmaking activities was defined by them as a non Islamic occupation.

They forced hejaab (a special defined covering for women) on actresses and women artists and filmmakers had to flee the country. And the only film produced in this period was Orooj (ascent) a feature film about war of Mujahedeen against the Russians.

Then the civil war began and burnt the body of cinema along with the whole infrastructures of our country.

The two Taliban soldiers

And when the Taliban the extremist force came on power in Afghanistan in 1996, they almost eradicated the art of cinema from Afghanistan by burning a part of Afghan films archive (though a big part of them were hidden by some of the staff), prohibiting filmmaking strictly and charging punishment for filmmaking that was the fiercest behavior with cinema in the history of Afghanistan.

The new era!

Filmmaking in Afghanistan; not an industry yet

Counting the members of private filmmaking productions in Kabul most of which are licensed by the Ministry of Information and Culture we can name Afghan Film Industry Kabuliwood as there are more than 70 small and big filmmaking productions but no significant products are seen in the recent years though there have been keen interest for filmmaking. After the collapse of Taliban, there are only two or three significant real Afghan films produced in Afghanistan which can represent Afghanistan in world wide festival and competitions.

Today if we see the cinematic activities in Afghanistan there are several categories of filmmakers; the generation of 1960s and 70s who are too old to be productive and the second generation is the ones who have studied cinema through scholarships in different countries. The second category has proven to be the most active filmmakers so far as they are trying to experience different films shorts, documentaries and low costs, and the third generation is the young Afghans who do not have knowledge of cinema but they are only fans of cinema and have started their experiential works without an educational cinema background.
The present situation shows that the recent filmmakers of different categories are emerging independently as there is no industry existing in the country but there is still confusion where the Afghan Cinema is going; no one knows.

Significant Afghan Films produced after the Taliban:

Osama a film by Seddiq Barmak after collapse of the Taliban Regime

Osama by Seddiq Barmak and Ash and dust by Atiq Rahimi and Spring of Hope by Hashmat khan are the three 35mm significant Afghan films after the collapse of the Taliban produced in partnership with the foreigners while there have been some independent and partnership foreign film projects from India, France, Iran and other countries in these years which are not counted Afghan film projects.

Women’s presence in arts and cinema:

One of the things that makes us hopeful for the future it is the participation of the women in all arenas including cinema and filmmaking. The women have had a significant presence in cinema and filmmaking in big cities like Kabul, Herat and Mazar-e- sharif despite of all difficulties and problems they have. There are women emerging as directors and actresses and producers.

Women are being obsessive of the five black years of Taliban therefore they have to compensate their backwardness of those years by making different efforts in different arenas of life such as social, cultural, political and economic fields.

Saba Sahar actress, filmmaker and police officer

As a result, profiles like, Marina Gulbahari, Amina Jafari, Saba Sahar, Bereshna Bahar, Aqela Rezayee, Khala Hameda and Zobaida are the women started their career in cinema unprofessionally since the collapse of Taliban and now each of them is trained and grown as an actress and or filmmaker.

Amina Jafari Afghan actress and filmmaker

Marina Gulbahari actress


Aqela Rezayee actress

Playing roles in about 27 short and feature films Amin Jafari has glittered significantly while she has made three documentaries about women and Roya Sadat a student in Law faculty in Heart has shown a great impression by directing her first feature film about the women called Sey Noqta (three dots).

Roya Sadat Afghan Filmmaker director of Sey Noqta