My favourite Afghan filmmakers
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- Additional Crew
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Date of Birth: September 7, 1962
Growing up in Afghanistan, Siddiq Barmak dreamed of being a cinema projectionist, but he eventually realized that he wanted to have a more hands-on role in filmmaking, and in 1987, he got his masters in film direction.In 1988, he made his first documentary short film, called The Disaster of Withering, and in 1991, he filmed his first full-length documentary: The Hadith of Conquer. From 1992 to 1996 Siddiq was head of the Afghan Film Organization while living in Kabul, but when the Taliban took control, filmmaking was banned, and Barmak was forced to escape first to the north, then eventually to Pakistan. Returning in 2001 after an American-led invasion brought about the collapse of Taliban, Siddiq re-established the Afghan Film Organization and went on to found the Buddha Film Organization. Unfortunately, all of Siddiq's previous works were confiscated and destroyed during the Taliban regime. Among his film credits is the Dari language film Urooj that depicts the Afghan resistance against the 1979 to 1989 invasion of the Soviet Union.
Barmak decided to write and direct his first feature film, Osama (2003), after hearing a true story about a girl in Afghan who disguised herself as a boy during the Taliban regime so she could attend school. Barmak decided to use non-professional actors in the film and searched orphanages and refugee camps for his cast. He found a 12-year-old girl, Marina Golbahari, to play his main character on the street after she approached him to ask for spare change. Osama has won awards all over the world, including a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.- Writer
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Atiq Rahimi was born on 26 February 1962 in Kabul, Afghanistan. He is a writer and director, known for Earth and Ashes (2004), The Patience Stone (2012) and Our Lady of the Nile (2019).Afghan-French- Anwar Hajher is known for 16 Days in Afghanistan (2007).
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After escaping to the U.S. during the Soviet invasion, Sonia wrote a letter to President Reagan, he in turn invited her to the Oval Office to discuss the conflicts in Afghanistan. Serving on the Board of the Afghanistan Relief Committee formed by past U.S. Ambassadors to Afghanistan, Sonia's human rights activism began. Ms. Cole was asked to assemble a major fund-raising event where she obtained the backing of then Vice President George H.W. Bush, who served as an Honorary Chairman of her first fund-raising event, A Night for Afghanistan. Not long afterward Sonia was recognized with a Peace Medal at the United Nations. She is the recipient of a "Congressional Recognition" award on December 4, 2006, "Afghan American Sisterhood Award," and the "UN Women Together Award" on June 7, 2012. In 2013, she received the Freedom to Write Award from PEN Center USA. In 2007 Ms. Cole completed an award winning documentary "The Breadwinner." In 2011 she completed "Black Tulip", serving as director, producer and writer. Based on true events, "Black Tulip" is a journey of tragedy, struggle and hope that encompasses the current plight of the Afghan people. After the film was made Sonia relived her struggles of producing this film by writing the book "Will I Live Tomorrow," the journey of making a film in the middle of war zone Afghanistan against the Taliban. "Black Tulip" was the official Afghan submission to the 2011 Academy Awards. The film has garnered numerous accolades since, receiving top honors at over 11 film festivals. The well received "Black Tulip" was featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, the New York Times, Reuters, Voice of America and many more.
Following our 9/11 Tragedy and the international US-led coalition response, Sonia realized the need to give voice to the voiceless people of Afghanistan. Forming the Afghanistan World Foundation in May 2002, she raised significant funds to aid the building of hospitals and schools.- Director
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Barmak Akram is known for Wajma, an Afghan Love Story (2013), Kabuli Kid (2008) and Toutes les télés du monde (2005).- Director
Jawed Wassel was born in 1960 in Afghanistan. He was a director, known for Firedancer (2002). He died on 3 October 2001 in Queens, New York, USA.- Director
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Horace Shansab is known for Zolykha's Secret (2006), Independent Lens (1999) and Expedition Journal (1999).- Director
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Razi Mohebi was born in 1971. After studying fine art and film at the Faculty of Arts in Teheran, he returned to Afghanistan and took part in most of the films made after the fall of the Talibans. He was assistant director and actor in the film "Five in the Afternoon" by Samira Makhmalbaf and assistant director for "Osama" by Siddik Barmak and "Earth and Ashes" by Atiq Rahimi. In 2003, he also made "The Kite", a short film. "The Bracelet Seller" is his first feature film.- Music Department
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- Camera and Electrical Department
Ariana Delawari was born on 21 October 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress, known for We Came Home (2013), Entelechy (2016) and E-Ring (2005).American-Afghan- Director
Shaheer Azizi is known for Shak (2004).- Director
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- Producer
Shahrbanoo Sadat was born in 1990 in Tehran, Iran. Shahrbanoo is a director and writer, known for Wolf and Sheep (2016), The Orphanage (2019) and Not at Home (2013).- Writer
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Nelofer Pazira was born in 1973 in India. She is a writer and director, known for Act of Dishonour (2010), Return to Kandahar (2003) and This Is Not a Movie (2019).Afghan-Canadian- Director
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Roya Sadat was born in Herat, Afghanistan. She is known for A Letter to the President (2017), Se noghta (2003) and Sima's Song (2023).