THE FUTURE THAT AWAITS presents films about Afghan children and youth made in the years following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and until the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in Summer 2021. Sharing experiences throughout Afghanistan as well as in Iran, the films explore how characters navigate inherited political realities, legacies of social traditions, access to education, isolated communities, and child labor. The in-person screening features five short films that reflect the main themes of the program.
Featuring works by Lida Abdul, Yalda Afsah, Aidin Halalzadeh, Sahra Mani, Shahrbanoo Sadat, Sepideh Salarvand, and Ginan Seidl.
This program is co-presented by ArteEast and The Clemente and is curated by Lila Nazemian (ArteEast Special Projects Curator)
Kaloo School, Sahra Mani, Afghanistan, 2012
Dari with English subtitles
In between the famous Baba Mountain in rural Center of Afghanistan there is a village with 2500 families with just two schools for children. Nine-year-old Fakhereh from Afghanistan isn’t content to be a goatherd. She goes to school and enjoys learning. However, she has to walk there on foot and the journey takes two-and-a-half hours. There are only two schools available to children in this mountainous area – one for boys and one for girls. Most of the girls only complete primary school and then remain at home. Only 5% of women in Afghanistan are educated; the rest are illiterate. Therefore, Fakhereh’s fate is uncertain. The little girl has to take the goats to pasture every morning and bring her father lunch. Will she manage to change things? Does she have any chance of following her dream?
About the filmmaker
Sahra Mani is a multiple award-winning filmmaker. She received her master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from the University of Arts London with high distinction and her BA in Film and Cinema. Sahra’s works as a producer and director have had huge impact on women rights, equality and justice.
As a lecturer at Kabul University, she organized several film festivals and offered training and mentoring in Afghanistan. Mani’s films have screened at film festivals around the world and aired on broadcast networks globally. Her work as an Impact Campaign producer raises awareness and promotes action for issues and causes that demand social changes.
Sahra was a jury member for several film festivals and competitions like World Food Forum FF 2021, International Photo Competition on Global Health and Gender at UCL London 2020, and Rumi FF in Sweden 2018.
Her full-length documentary film, A THOUSAND GIRLS LIKE ME, was screened at many film festivals like HotDocs, Sheffield, and IDFA and won more than 25 awards worldwide, including three GOLD Awards at New York Festivals TV & Film, One World Media Award 2019, Full Frame Film Festival, and San Francisco Film Festival.
- Year2012
- Runtime15 minutes
- LanguageDari
- CountryAfghanistan
- DirectorSahra Mani
- ProducerFaiza Amhem
- Co-ProducerAsmita Shrish
- CastSedaghat, Fakhera
- EditorSahra Mani
THE FUTURE THAT AWAITS presents films about Afghan children and youth made in the years following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and until the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in Summer 2021. Sharing experiences throughout Afghanistan as well as in Iran, the films explore how characters navigate inherited political realities, legacies of social traditions, access to education, isolated communities, and child labor. The in-person screening features five short films that reflect the main themes of the program.
Featuring works by Lida Abdul, Yalda Afsah, Aidin Halalzadeh, Sahra Mani, Shahrbanoo Sadat, Sepideh Salarvand, and Ginan Seidl.
This program is co-presented by ArteEast and The Clemente and is curated by Lila Nazemian (ArteEast Special Projects Curator)
Kaloo School, Sahra Mani, Afghanistan, 2012
Dari with English subtitles
In between the famous Baba Mountain in rural Center of Afghanistan there is a village with 2500 families with just two schools for children. Nine-year-old Fakhereh from Afghanistan isn’t content to be a goatherd. She goes to school and enjoys learning. However, she has to walk there on foot and the journey takes two-and-a-half hours. There are only two schools available to children in this mountainous area – one for boys and one for girls. Most of the girls only complete primary school and then remain at home. Only 5% of women in Afghanistan are educated; the rest are illiterate. Therefore, Fakhereh’s fate is uncertain. The little girl has to take the goats to pasture every morning and bring her father lunch. Will she manage to change things? Does she have any chance of following her dream?
About the filmmaker
Sahra Mani is a multiple award-winning filmmaker. She received her master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from the University of Arts London with high distinction and her BA in Film and Cinema. Sahra’s works as a producer and director have had huge impact on women rights, equality and justice.
As a lecturer at Kabul University, she organized several film festivals and offered training and mentoring in Afghanistan. Mani’s films have screened at film festivals around the world and aired on broadcast networks globally. Her work as an Impact Campaign producer raises awareness and promotes action for issues and causes that demand social changes.
Sahra was a jury member for several film festivals and competitions like World Food Forum FF 2021, International Photo Competition on Global Health and Gender at UCL London 2020, and Rumi FF in Sweden 2018.
Her full-length documentary film, A THOUSAND GIRLS LIKE ME, was screened at many film festivals like HotDocs, Sheffield, and IDFA and won more than 25 awards worldwide, including three GOLD Awards at New York Festivals TV & Film, One World Media Award 2019, Full Frame Film Festival, and San Francisco Film Festival.
- Year2012
- Runtime15 minutes
- LanguageDari
- CountryAfghanistan
- DirectorSahra Mani
- ProducerFaiza Amhem
- Co-ProducerAsmita Shrish
- CastSedaghat, Fakhera
- EditorSahra Mani