PANJIM, SEPT 18
The Afghan film fraternity is apprehensive over its future as the European filmmakers have discontinued film shootings there as it has become a terror-stricken country, said Afghan actor Hamayoun Paiz.
“Till a couple of years ago, European films were shot in Afghanistan. We had few movies from France but the scenario has changed now,” he told reporters during the South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) interaction at Kala Academy today.
The 50-year-old film industry also seeks financial assistance from its neighbouring countries to produce good cinema. “We hardly produce four to five feature films annually while rest are short films. Our film industry lacks money power to make big films and hence we look forward to financial assistance from the good neighbouring countries,” he said.
Paiz’s 30-minute short film namely ‘I want a Horse not a Wife’ is being screened at the festival. Afghanistan is incidentally the focus country of this festival.
The film maker remarked that good things about the desert country need to be highlighted in the global cinema instead of showcasing unconstructive happenings in Afghanistan.
Paiz however bragged that movies from India, Pakistan and Iran are screened in the local theaters in Afghanistan.