22 SEPTEMBER 2013 | BADGHIS, AFGHANISTAN

 

Khalilurahman Faiz spent years aspiring to make films, but until recently, he didn’t have many of the technical skills he needed.

 

An intensive, month-long media course supported by USAID changed all that. It taught Mr. Faiz and nine other volunteers of the Badghis Film Association in northwest Afghanistan the basics of cinematography, graphics and post-production. This training will help the Association improve its productions, including documentaries which focus on social issues.

 

“It gave direction to my career,” said Mr. Faiz.

 

Since 2008, the Film Association has produced several documentaries and television series that critique Afghanistan’s society, government and cultural norms. In 2012, it won an award for ‘Yak Bad Bakht wa Du Besarnwesht’ (Two Wretches and One Fate), a film about drug abuse. With USAID support, it has also produced a feature-length documentary focusing on civil society organizations in Afghanistan.

 

“Because USAID decided to fund this project, a lot doors have opened for us,” said Director of Badghis Film, Abdullah Khiradmand. “We were able to make connections with media industry people in Kabul and donors have expressed interest in assisting us with future projects.”