Videos

The Asia Foundation And The U.S. Department of State

Present

"Afghanistan Unveiled"  A story of survival and optimism...

This documentary marks the culmination of a groundbreaking training program for Afghan women journalists. The women who filmed the documentary were the first female journalists to be trained in Afghanistan in more than a decade, and the first ever to be trained in digital media. This hour-long documentary captures the stories of women in Afghanistan, describing both their lives under the Taliban and their hopes for the future.

"Afghanistan Unveiled" is a story within a story within a story. Multiple themes are woven together to tell the story of HOPE for a better future for liberated Afghans.

The first story is a first person account by Afghan survivors, who describe, in their own words, the terrible things that the Taliban did to Afghan women, children, and men. Every survivor notes eloquently that no matter how harsh the situation is now, no matter how great the challenges, IT IS BETTER NOW THAN BEFORE.

The second story is one of personal and professional growth as the reporters confront demons from the past and opportunity lost. One reporter, like the survivors, vowed to "do more to defend" the right of all Afghans for a better life and vowed she would never be forced to wear a burke again.

Some viewers will be shocked by the grim landscape of rural Afghanistan and the difficulties of Biblical proportion that Afghans face as the rebuild their devastated country. This film documents the beginning of a new Afghan vision.

Despite the hardship and travail, this is a HAPPY ENDING STORY, as each survivor looks to a better future.

NOTE: This oral history project was accomplished through a DOS (SA/PD) grant in August 2002, to The Asia Foundation. At SA/PD request in January 2002, TAF located an implementer AINA, a French media-training center in Kabul. The project took longer than expected because there was no established film industry and no female documentary filmmakers. The grant was extended to include training of 14 women reporters. The French and Finnish governments, UNESCO and IOM also funded the project. All are given credit. TAF and DOS have copyright access to the product. (November 2003)