Afghanistan - LookListenLocal
Engaging with Afghan voices as the world disengagesSummary
It is the 10th anniversary of Community Supported Film’s distribution of the films made by Afghans during our training project, The Fruit of Our Labor – Afghan Perspectives in Film.
It is also the 20th anniversary of the American war in Afghanistan which has ended with the collapse of the Afghan goverment and the takeover by the Taliban.
Community Supported Film’s (CSFilm) mission is to amplify local voices in under- or mis-represented communities – whether they be new immigrants in the United States, Haitians, or Afghans.
As the international community disengages, Americans are hearing very little from Afghans. In line with our mission, CSFilm launches Afghanistan-LookListenLocal. From now through the departure of the US coalition, Afghans will share their experiences through videos, photos, and writing.
Afghanistan-LookListenLocal will include:
- Single Shot Video Contest. Afghans across the country are using their phones to shoot a single unedited shot that captures the essence of their lived reality.
- Short documentary videos are being mentored through production and will become new tools to stimulate discussion.
- Blog posts are being written on Afghans that participated in CSFilm’s first training and filmmaking project, The Fruit of Our Labor-Afghan Perspectives in Film. After 10 years many are refugees again, others have developed careers in filmmaking, some are living or working in regions once again controlled by the Taliban, all are fearful that Afghanistan is returning to a civil war defined by ethnic divisions.
Video Contest
Single Shot Video Contest. Afghans across the country are using their phones to shoot a single unedited shot that captures the essence of their lived reality. The best entries are awarded $300 and shared. This started in June, before the takeover by the Taliban.
Introduction from Hosna:
“This video is about street kids because:
- Streets kids are under a lot of mental pressure;
- They lose the chance to get an education;
- The likelihood that they will be recruited by insurgent groups and gangs is high;
- They should play but they work.
There are thousands of kids on the street who make a living by begging, waxing shoes, washing cars and much more.”
Stories
Blog posts are being written on Afghans that participated in CSFilm’s first training and filmmaking project, The Fruit of Our Labor-Afghan Perspectives in Film. These stories were written before the takeover by the Taliban.
1st anniversary of Afghan crisis
Night after night (daytime in Afghanistan) I used real-time on-the-ground intelligence information provided by vets and other organizations also working to evacuate people, to try and help guide families around the violent Taliban checkpoints, through the crushing crowds to the 20’ high walls of cement and barbed wire.
ON AFGHANISTAN | The beautiful land of endless suffering, by Jamaluddin Aram
Jamaluddin Aram served as CSFilm’s translator and coordinator in Afghanistan from 2010-12.
He is a documentary filmmaker, producer and short story writer from Kabul. He lives in Toronto.
Jamal has written a searingly poetic and vibrantly visual opinion piece on Afghanistan for Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper.
“Soon you are married to a member of the Taliban…” Aqeela’s Story, Afghanistan-LookListenLocal
At a time in a country where any female in cinema is considered a cheap woman if not an outright prostitute, one needs valor, thick skin, and a tremendous threshold for suffering.
Evacuation and Resettlement
These are the early days of a long, arduous, and painful process. We do not know how much money will be needed, for how long or how exactly it will be used. If for whatever reason funds aren’t needed for resettlement, we will refund your donation or ask your permission to put it to use towards our ongoing mission-based work to amplify local voices, perspectives, and experience. Thank you. Read updates on the effort below.
Against the Wall – An Afghan Evacuation Story – Part 1
The day Kabul fell to the Taliban, August 15, 2021, Basir and his family made their first attempt to get into the airport and onto a plane. It would be nearly a month before they escaped into Pakistan. Over the next weeks they would be beaten at Taliban checkpoints, endure crushing crowds and be threatened and sworn at by soldiers from around the world.
1st anniversary of Afghan crisis
Night after night (daytime in Afghanistan) I used real-time on-the-ground intelligence information provided by vets and other organizations also working to evacuate people, to try and help guide families around the violent Taliban checkpoints, through the crushing crowds to the 20’ high walls of cement and barbed wire.
Doc World | Afghanistan: The Wounded Land – A Four-Part Series – Streaming Online
From the Soviet invasion to the Taliban regime, a new series narrated by ‘The Kite Runner’ author @khaledhosseini explores Afghanistan’s complex past, present & future. Watch ‘#Afghanistan: The Wounded Land’ on Sundays starting 7/10 on #DocWorld. https://worldchannel.org/show/doc-world/ #AfghanistanWoundedLand
Presented & Produced by Community Supported Film
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