Addicted in Afghanistan, Feature documentary, Katalyst Productions, 2009, 78 mins
An intimate feature-length observational documentary that explores the heart-breaking reality behind the headlines as seen through the eyes of Jabar & Zahir, two 15 year old drug addicts living in Kabul. The documentary is an intimate and uncompromising portrayal, filmed over a year, of the day to day struggles of a new generation of children addicted to heroin, trying to find their way in the new Afghanistan.
“Addicted” was selected for the Sheffield Doc Fest Meet Market & was awarded both development and post production funding from the Jan Vrijman Fund at IDFA. The film has been selected at over 30 international film festivals including IDFA & Sheffield Doc/Fest 2009. It has won 5 international film festival awards & has been sold & broadcast on BBC Persia, DR2 TV Denmark, Maori TV New Zealand, CBC Documentary Channel Canada, Telewijza Poland, amongst others.
For more information about Addicted please go to the Addicted in Afghanistan Site, join the Facebook page, and follow the film on Twitter @AddictedAfghan.
Languages: Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Persian Subtitles: English. Directed by Jawed Taiman, Produced by Sharron Ward, Music by Elias Shahna & Deen Mohammed Ghamkhmer, Online Editor Nigel Taylor, Edited by Jason Brooks & Sharron Ward. A FilmFXZone/Katalyst Production, 2009.
Awards for Addicted in Afghanistan: Shortlisted for Grierson Best Newcomer Award 2010, Awarded Best Director of Documentary Award – Asian First Film Festival, Best European Documentary Feature Award – European Independent Film Festival, Aloha Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking – Honolulu International Film Festival, Golden Ace Award for Excellence in Filmmaking – Las Vegas International Film Festival, Nominated Best Documentary Film – Milan International Film Festival, Golden Palm Award – Mexico International Film Festival.
“Riveting,” – The Lancet,
“A powerful & emotional film,” – Karl French.
“A heart-breaking glimpse into the daily life of Afghani children who are addicted to drugs” – IDFA.
“Thank god for this kind of insightful, courageous filmmaking. This is a story that doesn’t get on the news every night. But it bloody well should.” – Hussain Currimbhoy, Sheffield DocFest Programmer.
