“Making films in Afghanistan is a difficult task”

Hyderabad, Nov 19 : Making films and exhibiting them in Afghanistan is not an easy task. Particularly when it comes to movies on women and children it is hell of a job, admitted Afghan film producers and directors.

Addressing a press conference here today, Alimousavi Azad, director of the children film “Uncrowded”, Jawad Whabzada, director of “Children of Kabul”, Paeman Arianfar, actor and director and Zarlashat Sarmast, woman journalist-turned-director recalled how they struggled to make their films and give them to the local TV channels for telecast as none of the exhibitors had come forward to screen them. “I have made five documentary films based on violence against women and child marriages. Though nothing objectionable content was there in them I was called by the Afghan Parliament to tender an apology,” said Zarlasht Sarmast. Still, some woman journalists are coming forward to make some movies and given them to the TV channels for telecast.

“My film “Osama” was selected for screening in the present ICFFI and I was so happy on seeing the response from the audience. In one of my documentaries on women I was so choosy about the star cast and I went around the Afghan shelters and prisons where women are lodged to make the selection to act in the movie,” she said adding that the film had ruffled the feathers of some of the Members of Parliament and “I was asked to tender an unconditional apology for making it,” she recalled.

These directors and producers said that 70 per cent of the Afghan people watch movies from India. “Indian movies have a lot of demand in our country,” they observed. Director of “Uncrowded” Alimousavi Azad said that his film reflected the other side of Afghanistan, which major part of the world does not know. He wanted to show the world the flipside of Afghanistan, he said. “No doubt making a film there is filled with difficulties of varied nature. However, I have completed it and the film was screened in at least five film festivals, including events in Russia, Canada and Spain,” he said. All of them, visiting India for the first time, were all praise for the organizers. “We really enjoyed our stay in Hyderabad and the people here and the place is very nice,” they said. They also thanked the Afghan Embassy in India for their smooth passage to Hyderabad. INN