Cinema of Afghanistan
Encyclopedia
This article addresses Persian and Pashto cinemas of Afghanistan. For Pashto cinema in general please see: Pashto films industry.
Cinema entered Afghanistan
at the beginning of 20th century. The political changes of Afghanistan have not allowed the cinema of the country to grow over the years. However, numerous Pashto and Dari films have been made both inside and outside Afghanistan throughout the 20th century. The Cinema of Afghanistan entered a new phase in 2001.
also known as Afghan Film Organization (AFO) is Afghanistan's state-run film company. It was established in 1968 and the president is Latif Ahmadi
.The Cinema of Afghanistan was used to called Afghan Film, which recently has changed to Kabulwood.
to the public. The first Afghan film, "Love and Friendship (film)", was produced in 1946.
When the fledgling Afghan Film was opened in 1968 it produced documentaries and news films highlighting the official meetings and conferences of the government. All these films were shown in cinemas before feature films, which were usually from India. The first feature film made in Kabul by Afghan Film using Afghan artists was ‘Like Eagles’ starring Zahir Waida and a young girl named Najia. Soon after this Afghan Film made a three-part film with the collective title ‘Ages’, which comprised ‘Smugglers’, ‘Suitors’ and ‘Friday Night’. Two other films from the same era are ‘Village Tunes’ and ‘Difficult Days’. All of these films were shot in black and white. Film artists of this era included Khan Aqa Soroor, Rafeeq Saadiq, Azizullah Hadaf, Mashal Honaryar and Parvin Sanatgar.
The first colour films produced by Afghan Film in the late 1960s were ‘Run Away’ (Faraar), ‘Love Epic’ (Hamaasa e Ishg), ‘Saboor Soldier’(Saboor Sarbaaz), ‘Ash’ (Khakestar), ‘Last Wishes’ (Akharin Arezo) and ‘Migrating Birds’ (Paranda Mohajer). These films, although not as technically proficient as those from abroad, struck a chord with Afghans because they mirrored their life. However, cinema was still seen only in the larger centres.
During the late 1960s and 1970s Soviet aid included cultural training and scholarships were offered to students interested in studying film. However, since Afghanistan had no film academy, future filmmakers had to apprentice on the job. The civil wars of the 1990s were not conducive to creative work and many people working in the Afghan film industry escaped to Iran or Pakistan, where they were able to make videos for NGOs.
When the Taliban took power in 1996 in Kabul, cinemas were attacked and many films were burnt. The Taliban forbade the viewing of television and films and cinemas were closed, either becoming tea shops or restaurants or falling into a state of disrepair
attracted world attention to Afghanistan with his celebrated movie, Kandahar. It was an attempt to tell the world about a forgotten country. The film brought the cinema of Afghanistan to the Cannes film festival for the first time in history. Later Samira Makhmalbaf
, Siddiq Barmak
,
Razi Mohebi, Horace Shansab, Yassamin Maleknasr and Abolfazl Jalili made a significant contribution to Dari (Persian)
cinema in Afghanistan.
Barmak's first Persian/Pashtu film Osama
(2003) won several awards at film festivals in Cannes
and London. Siddiq Barmak is also director of the Afghan Children Education Movement (ACEM), an association that promotes literacy, culture and the arts, founded by Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. The school trains actors and directors for the emerging cinema of Afghanistan. In 2006 Afghanistan joined the Central Asian and Southern Caucasus Film Festivals Confederation
.
Emaan (2010), After much await and public demand, EMAAN film was finally screened at Reading Cinemas in Australia. This is the first time an Afghan Film to be screened at a Cinema. Emaan - the winner of 2011 South Asian Film Festival (Canberra Australia) for Best Story and Best Film, where films like '3 Idiots' of India was also nominated and shown. The film's director and Producer Haris Yosufi resident of Australia he travelled to Afghanistan and spent six month shooting his film. He spent a further Five months in Australia for the post-production work. You can visit Emaan official website www.emaanthefilm.com
Apart from cinema in Persian, Pashto cinema
is also flourishing in Afghanistan. Several Pashto language films have been made since the fall of the Taliban. Several Pashto films have been made by foreigners like "Good Morning Afghanistan" (2003) by Camilla Nielsson.
In the 1970s and 1980s, it was not difficult to get women to act in films. The war and the Taliban rule changed the situation. Today women are increasingly represented in the cinema of Afghanistan. Talented actors like Amina Jafari, Saba Sahar and Marina Gulbahari have emerged over the last decade.
by Mithaq Kazimi
and Postcards from Tora Bora by Wazhmah Osman.
The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan a documentary shot by award-winning British director Phil Grabsky
was released in 2001 and went on to win awards worldwide.
There is also a monthly magazine, Theme, that is published by Afghan Cinema Club that focuses on Afghan and international cinema.
s due to the low production quality and audience reach. These films are targeted mainly at Afghan audience and rarely make it to the non-Afghan audiences or the international film festivals.
, Sheraghai Daghalbaaz, In The Wrong Hands, Shade of Fire, 3 Friends, Al Qarem in United States, Shekast in Pakistan, Aftaab e Bighroob in Tajikistan Kidnapping
in Germany and in Italy Gridami by Razi Mohebi .
Most notable of all were Academy-Award submission FireDancer
and France-based film Khakestar-o-khak.
's Dharmatma
, and Khuda Gawah
, American Film The Beast (1988).
Since the fall of Taliban films made in or about Afghanistan include, film Kabul Express
, Escape From Taliban, British Film In This World
and Hollywood-produced Kite Runner
.
Cinema entered Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
at the beginning of 20th century. The political changes of Afghanistan have not allowed the cinema of the country to grow over the years. However, numerous Pashto and Dari films have been made both inside and outside Afghanistan throughout the 20th century. The Cinema of Afghanistan entered a new phase in 2001.
History
Afghan FilmAfghan Film
Afghan Film also known as Afghan Film Organization is Afghanistan's state-run film company. It was established in 1968 and the current president is Latif Ahmadi.-External links:* http://www.afghanmagazine.com/2004_07/photoessay/afghanfilm.shtml...
also known as Afghan Film Organization (AFO) is Afghanistan's state-run film company. It was established in 1968 and the president is Latif Ahmadi
Latif Ahmadi
Abdul Latif Ahmadi is an Afghan film director. He is currently the president of Afghan Film, the state-run Afghan film company.-External links:* *...
.The Cinema of Afghanistan was used to called Afghan Film, which recently has changed to Kabulwood.
Before 2000
Amir Habibullah (1901–1919) introduced film to Afghanistan, but in the royal court only. In 1923-24, the first projector - "magic box" or "mageek lantan" (magic lantern) - showed the first silent film in PaghmanPaghman
Paghman is a town in the hills near Kabul, Afghanistan. See also Paghman Gardens. It is center of the Paghman District which has a total population of 120,000 people, and another 20,000 returnees are expected , of which 70% are Pashtuns and 30% Tajiks.. Paghman District is situated in the western...
to the public. The first Afghan film, "Love and Friendship (film)", was produced in 1946.
When the fledgling Afghan Film was opened in 1968 it produced documentaries and news films highlighting the official meetings and conferences of the government. All these films were shown in cinemas before feature films, which were usually from India. The first feature film made in Kabul by Afghan Film using Afghan artists was ‘Like Eagles’ starring Zahir Waida and a young girl named Najia. Soon after this Afghan Film made a three-part film with the collective title ‘Ages’, which comprised ‘Smugglers’, ‘Suitors’ and ‘Friday Night’. Two other films from the same era are ‘Village Tunes’ and ‘Difficult Days’. All of these films were shot in black and white. Film artists of this era included Khan Aqa Soroor, Rafeeq Saadiq, Azizullah Hadaf, Mashal Honaryar and Parvin Sanatgar.
The first colour films produced by Afghan Film in the late 1960s were ‘Run Away’ (Faraar), ‘Love Epic’ (Hamaasa e Ishg), ‘Saboor Soldier’(Saboor Sarbaaz), ‘Ash’ (Khakestar), ‘Last Wishes’ (Akharin Arezo) and ‘Migrating Birds’ (Paranda Mohajer). These films, although not as technically proficient as those from abroad, struck a chord with Afghans because they mirrored their life. However, cinema was still seen only in the larger centres.
During the late 1960s and 1970s Soviet aid included cultural training and scholarships were offered to students interested in studying film. However, since Afghanistan had no film academy, future filmmakers had to apprentice on the job. The civil wars of the 1990s were not conducive to creative work and many people working in the Afghan film industry escaped to Iran or Pakistan, where they were able to make videos for NGOs.
When the Taliban took power in 1996 in Kabul, cinemas were attacked and many films were burnt. The Taliban forbade the viewing of television and films and cinemas were closed, either becoming tea shops or restaurants or falling into a state of disrepair
Post-Taliban
Since 2000, the cinema of Afghanistan has slowly started to emerge from a lengthy period of silence. Before the September 11th attacks, Afghanistan-based Iranian director Mohsen MakhmalbafMohsen Makhmalbaf
Mohsen Makhmalbaf is an Iranian film director, writer, editor, and producer. During 2007 he was the president of Asian Film Academy.Makhmalbaf's films have been widely presented in international film festivals in the past ten years. The multi-award-winning director, belongs to the new wave...
attracted world attention to Afghanistan with his celebrated movie, Kandahar. It was an attempt to tell the world about a forgotten country. The film brought the cinema of Afghanistan to the Cannes film festival for the first time in history. Later Samira Makhmalbaf
Samira Makhmalbaf
Samira Makhmalbaf is an internationally acclaimed Iranian filmmaker and script writer. She is the daughter of Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the film director and writer. Samira Makhmalbaf belongs to the New Wave movement within Iranian cinema...
, Siddiq Barmak
Siddiq Barmak
Siddiq Barmak in Panjshir, Afghanistan, is a film director and producer. He received an M.A degree in cinema direction from the Moscow Film Institute in 1987.He has written a few screenplays and has made a few short films...
,
Razi Mohebi, Horace Shansab, Yassamin Maleknasr and Abolfazl Jalili made a significant contribution to Dari (Persian)
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
cinema in Afghanistan.
Barmak's first Persian/Pashtu film Osama
Osama (film)
Osama is a 2003 film made in Afghanistan by Siddiq Barmak. It is about a girl living in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime who disguises herself as a boy, Osama, to support her family. It was the first film to be shot entirely in Afghanistan since 1996, when the Taliban régime banned the...
(2003) won several awards at film festivals in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
and London. Siddiq Barmak is also director of the Afghan Children Education Movement (ACEM), an association that promotes literacy, culture and the arts, founded by Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. The school trains actors and directors for the emerging cinema of Afghanistan. In 2006 Afghanistan joined the Central Asian and Southern Caucasus Film Festivals Confederation
Central Asian and Southern Caucasus Film Festivals Confederation
-Member states:*Afghanistan*Armenia*Iran*Kazakhstan*Kyrgyzstan*Tajikistan-Goals:* Mutual assistance given to festivals organized in member countries.* Member nations will establish offices to aid in film production.-External links:*...
.
Feature Films
Zolykha's Secret (2007), (Rahze Zolykha in Persian) is also among the first feature films from post-Taliban Afghanistan. Lyrical and tragic, the film has played to full houses at major film festivals. The film's director, Horace Ahmad Shansab, trained young Afghan filmmakers and made the film entirely on location in Afghanistan.Emaan (2010), After much await and public demand, EMAAN film was finally screened at Reading Cinemas in Australia. This is the first time an Afghan Film to be screened at a Cinema. Emaan - the winner of 2011 South Asian Film Festival (Canberra Australia) for Best Story and Best Film, where films like '3 Idiots' of India was also nominated and shown. The film's director and Producer Haris Yosufi resident of Australia he travelled to Afghanistan and spent six month shooting his film. He spent a further Five months in Australia for the post-production work. You can visit Emaan official website www.emaanthefilm.com
Apart from cinema in Persian, Pashto cinema
Pashto language
Pashto , known as Afghani in Persian and Pathani in Punjabi , is the native language of the indigenous Pashtun people or Afghan people who are found primarily between an area south of the Amu Darya in Afghanistan and...
is also flourishing in Afghanistan. Several Pashto language films have been made since the fall of the Taliban. Several Pashto films have been made by foreigners like "Good Morning Afghanistan" (2003) by Camilla Nielsson.
In the 1970s and 1980s, it was not difficult to get women to act in films. The war and the Taliban rule changed the situation. Today women are increasingly represented in the cinema of Afghanistan. Talented actors like Amina Jafari, Saba Sahar and Marina Gulbahari have emerged over the last decade.
Documentary films
Documentaries have been made in Afghanistan since the Taliban, most notably 16 Days in Afghanistan16 Days in Afghanistan
16 Days in Afghanistan is a groundbreaking documentary about the journey of Afghan-American Anwar Hajher traveling to his homeland Afghanistan after 25 years to rediscover his country. The film is produced by Mithaq Kazimi and is the first documentary since the fall of Taliban to be shot in those...
by Mithaq Kazimi
Mithaq Kazimi
Mithaq Kazimi is a film director and producer, mostly known for his documentary film 16 Days in Afghanistan and founding member of Dawn Breakers International Film Festival...
and Postcards from Tora Bora by Wazhmah Osman.
The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan a documentary shot by award-winning British director Phil Grabsky
Phil Grabsky
Phil Grabsky is a British documentary film-maker based in Brighton, East Sussex. His company Seventh Art Productions has produced documentaries for television and cinema....
was released in 2001 and went on to win awards worldwide.
There is also a monthly magazine, Theme, that is published by Afghan Cinema Club that focuses on Afghan and international cinema.
B-movies
There are a number of films produced both inside and outside Afghanistan that are considered B-movieB-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s due to the low production quality and audience reach. These films are targeted mainly at Afghan audience and rarely make it to the non-Afghan audiences or the international film festivals.
Outside Afghanistan
Since many filmmakers escaped the country due to the wars, they began to make films outside Afghanistan. Some notable films made outside Afghanistan include Shirin Gul-o-Shir Agha trilogy made in Russia, Foreign LandForeign Land
Foreign Land is a 1996 action film directed by Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas.-Cast:* Alberto Alexandre - Maitre Machado* Fernando Alves Pinto - Paco* Alexandre Borges - Miguel* Canto e Castro - Porteiro* Laura Cardoso - Manuela...
, Sheraghai Daghalbaaz, In The Wrong Hands, Shade of Fire, 3 Friends, Al Qarem in United States, Shekast in Pakistan, Aftaab e Bighroob in Tajikistan Kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
in Germany and in Italy Gridami by Razi Mohebi .
Most notable of all were Academy-Award submission FireDancer
FireDancer
Fire Dancer is a 2002 film directed by an Afghan-American, Jawed Wassel. It was the first Afghan film to be submitted for an Academy Award.-External links:* http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/firedancer/* http://movies.go.com/firedancer/d776981/drama...
and France-based film Khakestar-o-khak.
Foreign films
Many foreign films were made within Afghanistan which include Hindi films like Feroz KhanFeroz Khan
Feroz Khan was an Indian actor, film editor, producer and director in the Hindi film industry...
's Dharmatma
Dharmatma
Dharmatama is a 1975 Hindi movie and the first ever Bollywood film to be shot in Afghanistan. It was produced and directed by Feroz Khan. The movie is the first attempt in India to localise The Godfather. This film's protagonist Premnath was based on the character of Matka king Ratan Khatri...
, and Khuda Gawah
Khuda Gawah
Khuda Gawah is a 1992 Bollywood film directed by Mukul S. Anand and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Sridevi , Shilpa Shirodkar and Danny Denzongpa.Amitabh plays the role of an Afghan , who travels between Afghanistan and India.Khuda Gawah had lavish...
, American Film The Beast (1988).
Since the fall of Taliban films made in or about Afghanistan include, film Kabul Express
Kabul Express
Kabul Express is a Bollywood film that was released on 15 December 2006. The film stars John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, Pakistani actor Salman Shahid, Afghan actor Hanif Hum Ghum and American actress Linda Arsenio...
, Escape From Taliban, British Film In This World
In This World
In This World is a 2002 British docudrama directed by Michael Winterbottom. The film follows two young Afghan refugees, Jamal Udin Torabi and Enayatullah, as they leave a refugee camp in Pakistan for a better life in London. Since their journey is illegal, it is fraught with danger, and they must...
and Hollywood-produced Kite Runner
Kite runner
Kite runner may refer to:*A person whose hobby is Kite running*The Kite Runner, a novel by Khaled Hosseini*The Kite Runner , a 2007 film based on Khaled Hosseini's book...
.
Actors
- Aryan Khan
- Haji KamranHaji KamranHaji Kamran is an Afghan actor, best known for his comedic roles in film and television. He became famous in Afghanistan and in the West with his series Shirin Gul and Sheragha, directed by Latif Ahmadi. He currently lives in Virginia and does television advertisements and small roles for Ariana...
- Mamnoon MaqsoodiMamnoon MaqsoodiMamnoon Maqsoodi is a well known Afghan actor. He made his acting debut with the film De Konday Zoy playing the role of a simple minded villager named Shadgul.-Early life & education:...
- Ghafar Qutbyar
- Rasool Emaan
External links
- Oscar Nominations
- Afghan cinema
- Afghan Cinema - Network for Afghan filmmakers
- IMDB: Afghanistan
- Movie Movie - A chronological history of Afghan cinema from 1946 to the present day.