Two New Films to be Broadcast in Afghanistan 2/3 and 2/10

These films were made through CSFilm’s mentorship program.  The filmmakers were assisted through their first experience of developing story ideas that met the commissioning organization’s criteria, and writing proposals and budgets.  Once this massive challenge was met (and they won the contracts!) they had to learn project and financial management, and then produce a high quality, engaging 30 minute documentary.

 

We are so proud of their accomplishments.  Hamed did an incredible job of coordinating the projects for CSFilm and produced Women’s Business, airing Friday, February 3rd.  Women’s Business is Ms. Fatima Jafaria’s story of succeeding as an Afghan business woman in the furniture manufacturing industry.  As she describes:

• Most of the time when I went to meetings clients thought I was a marketer for the company, not the President.  When they learned that I was the owner, they couldn’t trust the quality of our products.  Most of them said they would call me but never did.  A few of them overcame their doubt and gave us orders.  After it was delivered, they couldn’t believe our company produced it.

In terms of the future of her community, Mrs. Jafaria says:

• A miracle is needed, but I can only hope that our society is transformed.  All of our problems are rooted in the lack of education and literacy.  If people are educated, most misperceptions won’t exist and we will develop a civilized society.

Wahid, expanded on the short “Knocking on Time’s Door” that he made during the CSFilm training, to create Disarm and Develop, to be aired February 10th.  The viewer experiences a former Mujahedeen’s transformation from warrior to teacher and leader of his Community Development Council (CDC).  The story also profiles the exceptional economic and community development work of the Afghan Government’s National Solidarity Program, the creator of the CDCs.  As Abdul Basir Siddiqi explains in the film, when fighters agreed to disarm they were given opportunities to put their energy to work on the development of their villages:

• In 2003 when the disarmament program began, I put down my weapon and chose to live a civilian life.  I was really fed up with war.  We’d been fighting for 30 years.  A year later we started building the school. …  Now, installing the windows marks the completion of the school. … It makes me very happy.  It’s a fact that when people share a common goal, solidarity is created.  Before the CDC was created, people were busy with their own business.  But the CDC obliged villagers to meet at least once a week.  CDC meetings encouraged friendship among people.

These two films are part of the 13-part series called Windows into Reality: Documentary Films by Afhan Filmmakers, and was executive produced by the Cetena Group.  They explain:

• the series covers stories of hardships overcome, old hopes renewed, and touches on the lives of the people taking Afghanistan forward to the next decade.

With your support, we look forward to being right there with our Afghan friends and collaborators into the next decade.

Thanks!

Michael Sheridan, Director
Community Supported Film

Please support our training and education work.  Audience members have stated repeatedly that watching The Fruit of Our Labor, even after 10 years of media coverage, was the first time they heard Afghan voices and saw more than fleeting views into Afghan life.  We depend on your donations to continue this work.