Read this great interview with Mohammad Amin Wahidi, a young Afghan filmmaker who recently attended the International Venice Film Festival to screen his short, Treasure in the Ruins. In the interview, Wahidi talks about his work and the difficulties of being a filmmaker in Afghanistan today. 1) Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood? Was there something during those years that made you want to become a journalist? When I was a child, I’ve heard from my family that I was very naughty (laughs). I’m just kidding. During my childhood, I was a good painter, and I drew and painted some portraits and landscapes. Later on, I got interested in music and then cinema, filmmaking and the media. Since school, I’ve been very curious and kept asking my teachers about as many things as I could. In regards to what made me become a journalist, I’d have to say that I have a long way in this career, and I have never called myself a perfect journalist. I prefer saying that I am a young and developing journalist, but in the future, I hope to be able to do more and more. What essentially led me toward this field, I think, was my curiosity for knowing more about the world. It is very pleasant being able to inform people of the news and what is happening in the world today. 2) When and how did you start making films? Since 2003, I have been working at several film production companies, including Arman Film Company (a small private film production in Kabul) and Academy of Art and Cinema Education, first as a writer, then a screenwriter, a storyboard artist, and finally an assistant for television spots. After taking some serious courses on cinema studies and filmmaking, I got accepted into the Cinema and Theatre department at the University of Kabul. Then, by joining ATN (Ariana Television Network) in 2005, I gained more experience and registered my own small production company (Deedenow Cinema Production Afghanistan) in the Ministry of Information in 2007. My first short fiction was Treasure in the Ruins, and after its completion, I started planning the pre-production of my next film, The Keys to Paradise. This film is also written by me, and I had to face many problems for making an attempt to shoot it; I was threatened to death by the extremists of my country. So far I have written some screenplays, which I am listing here below. However, I want to shoot "The Keys to Paradise" as soon as I can. I am currently working on another screenplay, which is my own story dealing with the troubles my family and I faced in Afghanistan. My intention is to find a producer for this project very soon. All my screenplays are about the Afghans and Afghanistan. The Keys to Paradise The Red Shoes The Exhausted Birds A Cinematic Life? Taxi Driver The Burnt Desires 3) What were you doing prior to making films? Since 2002, I have been working at several positions at several organizations. Mainly, I worked as an English teacher, English translator, program officer, administrative assistant, and assistant head of programming. But working for the media at radio and television is more exciting than all of this. Before coming to Italy for the Venice Film Festival and the EIUC Summer School on Cinema & Human Rights, I had four responsibilities. I was a full time employee with NDI (National Democratic Institute) as a program officer for translations that worked with the parliament of Afghanistan. I was the head of International Relations of Academy of Art in part time. I was a journalist for Farda Radio (that is now Farda Radio and television), and I had my own private production company. 4) Can you tell us a little bit about the "Treasure in the Ruins?" and what made you begin this project? Shortly saying, "Treasure in the ruins" is consists of the images of a war-torn country that has lost its glory and pride due to war and the conflict there. Whatever is found under the walls of destroyed buildings is the symbol of war and destruction, and each of these items tells a different story of what happened to this land. The buildings shot in this short used to be all standing and portray the glory of my country, and now they’re all are broken and the glory is lost. I made this short film just to point out and raise the question of "what will happen to the life and predestination of thousands of young children who have lost either of their parents or both in this long lasting war and have no one to take care of them? Who is responsible for all this? Who will respond to their needs? And just to show that the only souvenir that has remained from this long lasting war are the military items such as boots, jackets and belts and medals, nothing else." 5) Do you think your journalism background helps your filmmaking in anyway? If so, how? Well, I believe yes to some extend, because in my opinion filmmaking is consist of four to five things; Arts and literature Visualization and imagination power (to visualize and give a good image) Technology Psychology and sociology and enough information about the society you live in General information and updates of the current affairs each has its role in making a good film. Journalism helps people increase general knowledge, and because I am a journalist, I know more about the public’s needs and the current affairs. So with the help of some journalistic skills, I can visualize what I write. Moreover, having pain and grief is necessary for a filmmaker in order to have a sense and feeling. So knowing the pain of society and the pain of others helps the filmmaker to reflect the reality he witnesses. 6) How does the current situation in Afghanistan affect filmmakers and journalists like you? As the fundamentalists get more powerful, I believe there is less space for people who work for the media, freedom of speech and expression, and democracy. One of the new ways that the fundamentalists have taken to their hands is to threat and kill the media activists, journalists and filmmakers to force them quit the media. Especially this year has been a very bad time for the journalists. Two women journalists, one a TV presenter, and one a radio broadcaster were both killed in their homes, and nobody investigated why this had happened. A free media activist like me who runs a very popular website and reveals the corruption of the governmental agencies was imprisoned and was forced to quit the country. Just a few weeks ago, another friend and former colleague of mine in ATN was threatened to death by the Taliban and was forced to live in hidden, because he had a program on radio and talked about the Taliban's killings and massacres. I think the international community has to do something more for freedom of expression in Afghanistan, and that is possible when the media activists are given more protection and safety. Media can play a major role in democratization of Afghanistan, if the media activists and journalists are protected and supported. Otherwise only frontal battles are not enough to fight against the extremism and fundamentalism. Let the media reveal what all the fundamentalists do so that they would be hated more and more by the people and will not have any space among them. For further more about journalism in Afghanistan I am adding here the link of one of my articles that I wrote months ago about media in Afghanistan. Please read this link too: No more shhhhhhhhhhhhhes! No more censorship! 7) How can you express your worry for freedom of speech through the medium of film? I think cinema has a very major influence on human beings in general to change their way of life, their way of thinking, and even their beliefs. It has more influence and effects on the countries where there is a very high percentage of illiteracy like my country. I believe in my country where there is a high percentage of illiteracy, cinema is the most important and useful medium to show the people the new way of living, to visualize real lives for them, and let them know choose which one is better. And now, whatever has happened to me, myself, and my family is shocking, but it made me more and more committed to make The Keys to Paradise and to show the fundamentalists that I am not afraid of their death threats. And then by making the film of my own story and how I faced problems, I am expressing my concern about the freedom of expression and freedom of speech in my country. Currently I am working on a screenplay which depicts my own story, and I hope to find a producer for it. 8) What was your experience like during the International Venice Film Festival? To answer this questions please refer the link below which I had already posted in my blog, I hope it answers your question. Experiences at EIUC Summer School and Venice Film Festival 9) How do you see the future of cinema in Afghanistan? Do you have any suggestions for young filmmakers like you who can improve the future of cinema in your country? As I see a lot of talent and enthusiasm towards cinema in my country from the youth, I get hopeful. But when I see the other side of the coin, such as obstacles, intimidation, censorships and death threats against the filmmakers, I feel hopeless. I think this is why the potentials and talents are wasted without being used. My production along with producing films had the responsibility of the CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION OF YOUNG AFGHAN FILMMAKERS, so through this responsibility I had to make contacts with international film schools, film festivals and film productions to make a relationship with them and then make films together with them. I am still in touch with many Afghan filmmakers who are in Afghanistan. My suggestions for the government of Afghanistan would be not to forget cinema and filmmakers, but protect them, support them so that they can play a major role in the new era of the country by bringing big changes in the society. I hope our government hears my voice. And about the future and what will happen to cinema of Afghanistan please refer to link below which I have written a few months ago and you may be able to find something there too. An overview of the Afghan Cinema Interview by Eren Gulfidan - www.filmannex.com/Eren%20Gulfidan