“Treasure in the Ruins” screened for critics in Kabul

Amin Wahidi’s new film “Treasure in the Ruins” was screened for critics at the Academy of Art and Cinematic Education on Thursday, August 2, 2007.

Filmmakers and producers also attended the screening, with some guests giving speaches about the film. Attendees included Razi Mohebi, Ali Mohammadi, Soheila Mohebi, Reza Intezar, Ali Haqjo, Ali Hazara Lal, Mohammad Ali Zada, Ali Karimi, Hanif Elham and Abdul Rahim Danish, among others.

Most participants praised the film, calling it one of the best films made by a first-time filmmaker after the fall of the Taliban, and one of the best to deal with the effects of that conflict on children.

The twenty-six minute film tells the story of Homa, a seven-year-old Afghan girl who lives with her brother Homayoon and their ailing, widowed mother in the ruins of post-war Kabul. Inspired by her mother’s stories of a poor young boy’s treasure hunt, Homa goes on her own search through the wreckage for mythical riches. She finds only objects left over from the conflict. As her mother succumbs to tuberculosis from her years as a weaver, Homa burns and buries these remnants of war and destruction.

Aqela Rezayee, a leading Afghan actress who has played in films by the Makhmalbaf Film House, plays Homa’s mother. Glittering in the roles of the children are Asifa Abdul Hussaini, Azizullah Jafari and Metra Wahidi, the director’s younger sister.

Representing the cinema of Afghanistan to an international audience, the film is scheduled for screenings at the EIUC Summer School on Cinema and Human Rights and the 64^th Venice International Film Festival. The Festival will be held on the Venice Lido August 29 to September 8, 2007.

Amin Wahidi plans to direct and produce two films in Afghanistan in 2008. One is a short film entitled “The Great Desire,” and the other is a 60-minute drama entitled “The Keys of Paradise.”

In addition, Wahidi’s organization Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production plans to produce 25 short films in 2008-2009, each running between 7 and 15 minutes, dealing with various themes and subjects.

Deedenow presents this as an opportunity for young Afghan filmmakers to get their first (or second) pictures made, and has distributed a call for screenplays. The organization also seeks international co-producers for these films.

editorial assistance- Nathan Hartle

Afghan Film officials skip “Treasure in the Ruins” premiere, threaten censorship

Officials from Afghan Films, a department of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Culture overseeing the film industry, refused an invitation to the Kabul premiere of my film “Treasure in the Ruins.”

This followed a private screening after which these officials noted several objections to the film’s portrayals of Afghan government, religion and culture, and pressured Deedenow to make cuts to certain scenes from the film. The parts objected to include sections of dialogue, as well as scenes of symbolism that I feel gives the film its strength.

Deedenow stands against misunderstanding and baseless censorship. We refuse to cut the film without logical reasons to do so. We have repeatedly extended offers of support and compromise to Afghan Films, including the organization’s president Latif Ahmadi, but Ahmadi is only interested in spreading propaganda and keeping his job.

We regret that Afghan Films, which should be operating in the service of the nation’s film industry, instead acts to discourage young filmmakers and create obstacles to their projects.

Objections to the film included our omission of the spoken name of Allah at the beginning of the film, which the Afghan Films board of review states should precede all films. Instead of Allah’s name, the film opens with the barking of a dog. The board unofficially accused us of insulting Islam with this replacement, but has not yet taken official action.

Afghan Films also objected to a scene in which a soldier guarding the Darull Amaan Palace considers allowing the film’s young female protagonist inside to search for treasure. The board stated that the scene portrays weakness in the Afghan police and military, and therefore should be cut.

A third scene, in which the same young girl buries a number of military badges and metals and burns a picture of former kings, was thought to be insulting to Afghanistan’s national pride and symbols. This is not the case.

Attendance at the film’s premiere numbered more than a hundred, and included filmmakers, critics, artists and media activists, as well as journalists from various publications and television stations. Deedenow is seeking more exposure for the film, sending it to international film festivals as well as screening it within Afghanistan. We will continue to screen the film and stand up for our freedom of speech.

I will write about the corruption within the Afghan film industry in my next article. In this lies the real struggle.

-with editoral assistance from Nathan Hartle

Who Dares?!!

Poster for "The Keys to Paradise" which will be produced by Deedenow Cinema in 2008


Who dares to invest on a controversial but necessary film in Afghanistan?

Following the production of “Treasure in the ruins” Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production is announcing its second film project for the investors and producers who are interested to invest on it.

The screenplay is written by M. Amin Wahidi and tends to depict the ideology and thoughts which are beyond the moral of suicide bombing of the young religious scholars in Afghanistan and the young religious students of Pakistan being convinced to be sent to Afghanistan for suicide attacks.

Film Title: The Keys to Paradise
Subject: Depicting the last 24 hours of life of A Taliban Suicide Bomber Mullah who in the last minute decides no to suicide himself.
Screenplay writer: Mohammad Amin Wahidi
Director: Mohammad Amin Wahidi
Production name: Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production ® - Afghanistan
Screenplay length: 45 pages
Film runtime: 60 minutes
Format: HD Digital
Screenplay language: Dari (Farsi)
Film language: Dari and Pashto
Status: The project has not begin yet (not funded yet)
Estimated budget: XXXXXX USD
Shooting locations: Kabul and its suburb, Maidan Wardak and Logar province
Cast and crew:
Screenplay writer & Director: Mohammad Amin Wahidi


The Keys to Paradise

(Depicting the last minutes of live of a Taliban Suicide Bomber)

Synopsis:

Taufeq is a twenty five year old mullah who has studied in a religious Madrasa in Pakistan and now after he has returned to Afghanistan, lives with his mother and runs a small Madrasa teaching the children and teens religious studies, in his village.
His father has been killed in an air attack of the coalition forces in Afghanistan and so he is the only supporter for his mother. Taufeq is to suicide himself attacking the foreign troops; as per invitation of his master from Pakistan and for the purpose of going to the paradise. There are other certain reasons for this decision; when the governmental civilian schools are build in the village, less people refer to his Madrasa, and in these days he got only a few children referring to his Madrasa, he has some keys from his Master Mullah that are the keys to the Paradise in his belief and with which he can enter the paradise. The revenge of his father, this year’s drought and agricultural damages, and diseases their livestock dies because of, all are surrounding Taufeq very badly. He lives with his memories about his Madrasa in Pakistan. He has two important things in his daily life, an old radio with which he listens to the news about the Taliban and his father’s grave which he talks at nights with on daily basis. Hearing the news about killing of the Taliban, his angers increase day by day. At night he has nightmares seeing the foreign troops deriding, and annoying him or dreaming the scene when his father was killed.

A selected scene for "The Keys to Paradise"

Finally Taufeq is to select a way to release from all these disasters.
He accepts the invitation of his Master Mullah and takes a two days hidden training how to suicide himself. He tells nothing about it to his mother. The day comes when he is ready to go, without telling his mother where he is going but his mother already realized where he is going.

His mother wails, losing the only supporter, but for Taufeq the paradise and the promises of his master are more important. He is well- determined to accomplish the mission but he has no idea where to suicide himself, in a hospital? In a school, in a bazaar, or with the foreign forces? All his way from home to the main bazaar thinking about the paradise suddenly he sees some real scenes of the innocent people of the village; people being treated in the hospitals of the town, children going to school happily and an old woman as his mother, in this time he hears a bomb blast far away from him, soon after that the news comes that a best friend of his childhood who was returning from Europe to Afghanistan is being killed in that suicide bomb blast. Hearing this news and imaging his mother’s loneliness losing his power to move towards blasting himself, throwing away his ammunitions and the keys that he assumed to be the keys to paradise, saying this sentence “my homeland is my paradise” Taufeq goes back to embrace his mother while has lost his best friend for ever. It is sad to lose the best friend of childhood for ever but it is still pleasant when changing mind for a nicer and better decision!

Background; why this subject?!!

Lately a fourteen year old Pakistani boy was caught by the Afghan Security forces in Khost province that was going to blast himself in a suicide attack on Khost governor and then was forgiven and released by President Karzai for his was just a child and was misled and misused by the Terrorists. In the last three years in Afghanistan, the idea of suicide attacks on the foreigners has a rapidly growth among the young religious students who blindly follow this path believing this action as a mean for them towards paradise and long prosperity. Al though this idea is not a product of Afghanistan itself and is an imported strategy from the extremists and fundamentalists of Pakistan, but has been very vastly prevalent basically among the youth who suffer from poverty and is misled in their lessons in the southern regions of Afghanistan.
Basically for the fundamentalists and extremists misled religious groups and leaders, ideological war has become the most successful mean to reach their goals. This ideological war which means; taking advantages and benefits from the emotions, thoughts and believes of others has been very successful to grow by conquering the hearts, thoughts and beliefs of the young inexperienced blind religious students in Madrasas. Besides, they teach the youth in Madrasas about Jihad (The Holy war) they give them keys saying that they are the keys to paradise thus these keys are found with the suicide bombers. Showing them colorful dreams and imaginations the fundamentalists promise and encourage the unexercised youth for a better real life.

The reason beyond these suicide attack are not yet been analyzed that why suicide?! The cinema and film production can d epict the scope of this action and its consequences.
As the reports say: there have been more than 150 suicide attackers in different provinces of Afghanistan, only in the year 2006 but except some short TV spots there have been no movies and films produced depicting this important reality of Afghanistan in a fiction / feature structure.

Therefore this subject is a very new and fresh idea about the current situation of Afghanistan while the focus of international community and the UN is to know what exactly is going on here in Afghanistan. Here are the filmmakers who can play role of bridge between Afghanistan and the International Community that didn’t really happened yet.
Wish success for the interested productions / individuals who want to invest on this project in Afghanistan.

To invest on this Afghan controversial film please contact us as below and we welcome you to Deedenow Cinema:

Postal address:
P.O.Box number: 1477, Kabul Central Post Office, Kabul Afghanistan
E-mails:
aminwahidi@gmail.com
aminwahidi@yahoo.com
aminwahidi@hotmail.com
Mobiles:
+93(0)70221352
+93(0)777302005
Websites:
http://www.aminwahidi.com/
http://www.deedenowcinema.com/
http://www.aminwahidi.blogspot.com/

Treasure in the ruins on screen!

FA special screening of “Treasure in the ruins” for the film critics in Kabul



“Treasure in the ruins” a short film lately made by Amin Wahidi was screened in a special and friendly session for film critics in Academy of Art and Cinematic Education on Thursday August 02 2007.



In this session famous Afghan filmmakers like; Razi Mohebi, Ali Mohammadi, Soheila Mohebi, Reza Intezar, Ali Haqjo, Ali Hazara Lal Mohammad Ali Zada, famous Afghan film critic; Ali Karimi, television producers like; Hanif Elham, Abdul Rahim Danish and other guests were present in this session some of whom talked on the film.


Most of the participants praised this film as one of the best Afghan films made after the Taliban with the subject of post conflict children and one of the best first films of young filmmakers.

This short film depicts the story of a seven years old curious little Afghan girl who looks for treasure in the ruins of Kabul.
Homa goes to school in the morning and weaves carpet in the evening together with his brother Homayoon.
Her sick mother tells her different legends and stories including one about a poor boy and the treasure in the ruins. Hearing the legend of the poor boy and treasures Homa looks for treasure in the ruin buildings of Kabul and what she finds are all the items of war and destruction. At the end Homa’s mother dies of Tuberculoses for weaving carpet for years and years and Homa burns and buries the items she has found from the ruins.


Aqeela Rezayee actress of Makhmalbaf Film House


Playing roles in some of Makhmalbaf Film House films Aqela Rezayee a leading Afghan actress has the role of Homa’s sick mother in this film. Asifa Abdul Hussaini, Metra Wahidi (director’s youngest sister) and Azizullah Jafari are the three child actors who have glittered very well in this film.



Azizullaha Jafari as Homayoon and Asifa as Homa

Meetra Wahidi ( director's sister) as Azada and Saima Jafari as Fatima

Representing Afghanistan this short film is to be screened in the EIUC Summer School on Cinema and Human Rights and the 64th Venice International Film Festival of Italy held in August- Sep 2007 among the filmmakers of the world.

It is to say that Amin Wahidi plans to direct and produce two films in the year 2008; a short fiction and a feature film. The short one is a fiction titled; “The great desire” and the second one is a feature film titled “Keys to the paradise” both of which will be produced in Afghanistan in the coming year.

A selected scene for "The Keys to Paradise"

In addition to these two films; Deedenow Cinema Filmmaking Production has planned to produce 25 short fiction films (with 7 – 15 minutes runtime) with different themes and subjects in 2008- 2009.

This would be a great opportunity for the young Afghan filmmakers who are going to shoot their first or second films.

The call for screenplay is already written and distributed.

Amin Wahidi is looking for international co-producers for these projects of the short Afghan films to be produced in 2008- 2009.

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