Besides great artistic work and remarkable screenings the people that are involved in this event make the Afghan Film Festival unique and extraordinary. We proudly present a diverse program and a venue for directors and producers as well as visitors from Cologne and from all over the world.
Motion pictures
Ghame Afghan - The Afghan’s Mourning
Direction: Mark M. Rissi & Zmarei Kasi, Afghanistan/CH, 1986, OmeU, 86min.
In times of the Republic under President Daud - which means before the invasion of Soviet troops - Djuma's father was incarcerated by the secret police. Now, his brother Hakeem becomes their victim after he tries to save the life of a wounded resistance fighter against the communist regime. After this incident, the family is forced to leave the village immediately and flees to Pakistan. The uprooted and penniless family struggles to find its way in the new situation of the refugee camp. The younger sister Mina is kidnapped in broad daylight, sold off to a rich salesman and forced to marry him. Recruiters call upon the men to go to the holy war with the Mujahedin. The film presents a country in civil war and it shows an Afghanistan which is much more than a stage of war - with beautiful rugged landscapes, children playing and everyday life in a village.
In several key scenes, it becomes apparent how Afghans are slaves to their culture and mentality and thus, find themselves in difficulties time and again and end up being the victims.
9th company
Direction: Fjodor Bondartschuk, Russia, 2005, OmeU, 129min.
This is a film about the pointlessness of war, which takes place at the time of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. In a camp, Russian soldiers are trained for service by being humiliated and pushed near to physical collapse. They believe that they are well prepared until they are sent to Afghanistan where they experience the true face of war. Even the unshakeable ones, who were particularly aggressive, live to see extremely traumatic scenes.
Documentaries
Cabal in Kabul
Direction: Dan Alexe, France, 2006, OmeU, 52min.
The last two Jews living in Kabul live in an old synagogue. Unbelievably, they do not stick together but loathe each other instead. Isaac sells amulets to drive out evil spirits while Zebulon sells the wine he makes. Both spread almost identical rumours about each other. An enjoyable and, at the same time, sad documentary about a minority in Kabul.
Enemies of Happiness
Direction: Helle Faber, Denmark, 2006, OmeU, 59min.
"Enemies of Happiness" is a documentary about the most famous female parliamentarian in Afghanistan: Malalai Joya. At the Loya Jirga, the First Council’s meeting, she criticised the so-called warlords’ right to run for office. Until that day, no woman in Afghanistan had had the courage to do so. Since that fateful day, however, it is clear that her life is in danger.
The documentary accompanies Malalai Joya on the job in the province Farah, showing the kind of problems she has to face, the conflicts she has to settle while she is up to her neck in the election campaign and fears for her life.
Soon it becomes apparent that things in Afghanistan do not change overnight and that sometimes diplomacy is preferable to blurting out the truth.
Water is life – Documentary by Afghanischer Frauenverein e.V.
Direction: Nadia Karim, Christian Schulke, Germanyd, 2008, 10min.
This is a documentary about a relief project of the Afghan Women’s Organisation whose patron is Roger Willemsen. The film shows living conditions in the provinces without drinking water and the fundamental improvements achieved by the standpipe project.
Taxi to the Dark Side
Book and direction: Alex Gibney, USA, 2007, 115min.
"Taxi to the Dark Side" is a documentary about a young Afghan taxi driver who was arrested by American soldiers because he was reputed to be a member of the Taliban. In custody at Bagram Air Base, he was tortured to death within a few days. This is the central theme of the film. The film goes on to show and question America’s policy on torture in general. Is there method to it or are there just individual cases carried out by black sheep? The film tries to find answers to these questions.
Shared look – Theatre Life in Kabul
documentary by Jutta von Stieglitz Yousufy, Germany, 2006, OmU, 43min.
This film introduces the first actors performing in Kabul after the war and the director of the Kabul theatre. She returned after the war to rebuild the theatre that was nothing but a ruin. There she was reunited with the love of her life and married him.
The actors talk about their problems, the lack of appreciation and acceptance of their work as, to the extent that families cast out their children because of their job. In spite of this, the actors are courageous and hard-headed because they are convinced of the importance of their work.
Lima
Direction: Mehdi Zafari, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 16min.
An extraordinary story which sensitively describes the everyday life of a blind older couple and their daughter. The little daughter has no idea of her parents’ blindness and masters the situation.
The Eyes of Ariana
Direction: Ricardo Macian, Spain, 2007, OmeU, 91min. GERMAN PREMIEREE
A documentary about nine courageous filmmakers who saved the archive of Afghan Film from destruction in times of the Taliban regime. They risked their lives so that their work, that reflects the culture and beauty of the country, can live on.
A Day in the life of Rahela
Direction: Dil Afroz Zeerak, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 27min.
Rahela stands for many Afghan girls who attend school and also cope with the hard everyday life within their families. She studies at school but she doesn’t know why because she also knows that her parents won’t let her work afterwards. She prefers hard physical work because this immediately makes sense to her.
Dream of Light
Direction: Ibrahim Bamiani, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 23min.
"Dream of Light" is a film about the lack of electricity in Afghanistan. The documentary starts off with pictures that are barely imaginable nowadays: Kabul glowing during the festival of lights. Although the images are in black and white, they give an impression of the former glory of the city. The way back to such a state is a long and burdensome one. The film discusses how people deal with this challenge in everyday life, sometimes even with involuntarily funny aspects.
Patcha Khan
Direction: Taj Mohamad Bakhtari, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 20min.
There are many widows in Afghanistan, but hardly anyone knows of the widowers and their everyday life. This is the moving story of a widower: he affectionately cares for his four children. A picture of an Afghan man far beyond patriarchal stereotypes. The pictures tell their own tale.
Laila
Direction: Batol Rezaie Muradi, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 33min.
A forgotten fringe group in Afghanistan: mentally ill women who were dropped off in an asylum by their families. Some of them have been living there for 30 years already. The women talk about their worries and fears as well as about their dreams and desires. Laila is one of them.
My Kabul
Direction: Whahid Nazir, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 21min.
A film about a taxi ride in Kabul. Passengers talk about Afghanistan’s past, present and future. The viewer gains a fascinating insight in the people’s opinions.
The poppy village
Direction: Ghafoor Zamani, Afghanistan, 2007, German, 25min.
This highly topical documentation portrays the absurdity of the war on drugs. Chief commissioner Nasari, who has to destroy poppy fields knows that he cannot work in a constructive way but he is willing to play the game.
1,2,3
Direction: Alka Sadat, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 30min.
This is a film about the three main problems of women, which are being ignored in Afghanistan:
First, self-immolation by burning as the last resort out of deep despair.
Second, underage marriage which is still a bitter truth in Afghanistan. Third, women asking Islamic judges for help to solve family problems.
We are Postmodernist
Direction: Alka Sadat, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 5min.
This documentary shows the living conditions of homeless children and how they manage daily life in miserable circumstances despite their poverty.
Short Films
The Road
Direction: Fahim Hashimy, Afghanistan, 2002, silent movie, 5min.
This is a short film telling the story of a boy who meets a girl of the same age and is convinced to end his life as a highwayman and bandit.
David Shakes his Head
Direction: Tamim Nashir, USA, 2006, O-Ton, 35min.
A film about a young American who flees from home with his mother at the age of seven. At the age of 17 he finds out why: his father was a junkie. As a consequence of all the pain and despair, he becomes an addict himself. Even his one true love can’t save him.
Tamim Nashir is a young Afghan living in exile in the USA. Since 1998 he has been working as a scriptwriter and director. "David Shakes his Head” is his third short film.
Naan - Bread
Direction: Masud Ataei and Haroon Kharga, Germany, 2000, silent movie, 15min. GERMAN PREMIERE
This is a black and white silent film. The story takes place in the times of the Taliban regime. A man is unemployed and doesn’t know how to feed his children. Suffering from hunger he steals a loaf of bread, even though he knows that according to Sharia law his hand will be chopped off. The Taliban catch him and actually chop it off.
The film shows some of the atrocities during the time of the Taliban regime.
A quote from Masud Ataei (director): "The reason the film is black and white is because people's lives had no colour during the Taliban regime. The reason the film is without words is because people had no say at this time".
The Way Home
Direction: Mirwais Rekab, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 8min.
This short film broaches the problem of landmines. Children who are in danger are told why they are not allowed to walk on tagged paths and that they must always pay attention to .this, especially while they are playing.
Companion
Direction: Mirwais Rekab, Afghanistan, 2006, OmeU, 38min.
"Companion” is a film about ethnic conflicts in Afghanistan. A bus with travellers of various ethnic groups becomes involved in an accident. As in many cases, a dispute arises in which ethnic differences play a part. In the end, a wise old man makes them see sense. In the first instance, there is a didactical theme in the film.
Goltschera - Flora face
Direction: Abdul Rashid Azimi, Afghanistan, 2005, OmeU, 45min.
A 70 year old man exploits a poor family. He promises to help them out of their financial misery. As a countermove he wants to marry their 11 year daughter. A tragedy, which is sad reality in the provinces of Afghanistan.
The foreigner
Direction: Sidik Barmak, Afghanistan, 1986, OmeU, 38min.
Afghanistan in the seventies - An owner of a large estate visits one of his farmers with his American guest. The reason is the wife of the farmer, who is known for her wonderful voice. The landowner wants to entertain his guest with her voice. Her proud husband feels offended and wounded in his honour. He takes revenge for the humiliation.
Celebrating Eid behind the window
Direction: Qader Aryaie, Afghanistan, 2005, OmeU, 35min.
Eid is the most important religious festival with which the Moslems celebrate the end of the fasting month. A woman sells a part of her jewellery to buy food and presents for her children. She hires a young boy who has to carry the purchases on a trolley. He steals everything. A chase begins. A movie about the current attitude of the people in Kabul: Egoism and unscrupulousness is prevailing.
Animation
Panaa - Shelter
Mohsen Husseini, Afghanistan, 2007, 6min. - GERMAN PREMIERE
Shelter is the first Afghan animation at all. The transition between war and peace is portrayed in a very minimalistic manner.