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In the late 1970s, Afghanistan stood at a critical crossroads, suspended between socialist aspirations and the imminent Soviet invasion. The political chaos of this period created a precarious environment for potential social shifts—especially for women.

As the country explored new ideas, the fleeting moment for women’s learning and self-determination quickly transformed into a contested space, where possibility wrestled against deeply rooted societal constraints and emerging conservative pressures.

For Suraya and Sima, the film explores the fragile interplay between personal dreams and external threats. Their connection, rooted in a shared vision of societal change, becomes increasingly complex as they confront the oppressive dynamics of external intervention and internal ideological conflicts.

Their story raises a profound question about social transformation: Can meaningful change emerge when overwhelmed by historical burdens and persistent struggle?

The Shifting Sands of Friendship and Ideology

Sima’s Song explores the disintegration of a friendship between Suraya,...

Short Film Review: WAShhh (2024) by Mickie Lai

Lee Kah Giap’s black-and-white cinematography works quite well here, adding in a way, to the tension that is instigated by both the story and Wong Kai Yun’s sharp editing, in a film that scores quite high on production values overall. “WAShhh” is a great film, that manages to communicate a series of comments and a very entertaining story/event in just over 20 minutes. What becomes evident, is that Lai is more than ready to shoot a feature, perhaps even with the same theme.

Video Interviews: Mowaffaq Alobaid Short Film Review: Saint Rose (2024) by Zayn Alexandre

The cinematography is rather polished, in a way that mirrors the spotlessness of the house, making the aforementioned comment more intense, with the tension, however, coming more from the acting and the sound than the visuals. The editing results in a fast tempo that allows the...

Following the retaking of Afghanistan by the Taliban, in another tragic chapter in the country’s history, Roya Sadat and her husband and frequent collaborator Aziz Deildar, found themselves escaping the country, leaving almost everything behind, and eventually finding solace in the US. As such, it was quite a pleasure to learn that they managed to shoot another movie, with “Sima’s Song” premiering in Tokyo International Film Festival.

Sima’s Song is screening at Tokyo International Film Festival

The story is set in Afghanistan in 1978, during the transition to socialism, when the Russian influence in the country was quite intense, but also something else was starting to move within the government circles. Two girls, rich idealist and communist Suraya and poor Muslim Soraya manage to retain a loving friendship in the midst of the following invasion by the Soviet Union and the rise of an anti-Soviet armed group. While the former insists on women’s freedom,...

Pluto Film has expanded its lineup ahead of this year’s EFM in Berlin with Generation 14plus screener “Huling Palabas.”

The Berlin-based sales company has also acquired the historical drama “Sima’s Song” by award-winning Afghan director Roya Sadat; Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay’s timely and suspenseful German social drama “Hysteria”; and Luxembourgish helmer Eric Lamhène’s “Breathing Underwater,” which explores violence against women.

Ryan Espinosa Machado’s Philippine coming-of-age drama “Huling Palabas,” described by Pluto Film CEO Daniela Cölle as “a charming LGBTQ debut,” follows a 16-year-old boy in 2001 who, while searching for his father in the most unlikely of places, becomes mystified by two movie-like characters who appear in his small town.

“Huling Palabas” is produced by the Philippines’ Tilt Studios, Terminal Six, Waf Studios and Studio Pulo.

“Sima’s Song”

“Sima’s Song” stars Mozhdah Jamalzadah and Niloufar Koukhani as Suraya and Sima, lifelong friends whose lives take...

Five projects from Germany, Spain, Hungry and Turkey will participate in this year’s initiative for films in post-production.

Five projects from Germany, Spain, Hungry and Turkey will participate in San Sebastian’s Wip Europa initiative for films in post-production with majority European backing.

The programme will run September 25-27 during which the projects will be screened to producers, distributors, sales agents and programmers. A €10,000 Wip Europa prize is up for grabs to assist with post-production services.

Among the selection is Rima’s Song from Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat whose debut feature A Letter To The President was the country...

Further winners include ‘Gaspar’ from Indonesia and ‘Sima’s Song’ from Afghan director Roya Sadat.

Myanmar project Future Laobans, directed by Maung Sun and produced by jailed filmmaker Ma Aeint, won the Busan Award at the Asian Project Market today (October 11).

The project picked up the 15,000 cash prize in Busan. Currently in script development, Future Laobans is about three young scavengers in Myanmar who smuggle a jade stone across the border with dreams of becoming millionaires.

Filmmaker Ma Aeint was jailed in Myanmar in April on charges of anti-junta activity and is serving a three-year sentence. She was mentioned as...

Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat (who saw her debut film A Letter To The President preem in Locarno) appears to be moments away from embarking on the production of her sophomore feature. Screen Daily reports Sima’s Song (formerly known as The Forgotten History) is moving swimmingly landing some players and a backdrop that might surprise some as a stand-in for Kabul. Sadat will be filming the dramatic thriller in Greece, with Mozhdah Jamalzadah, Leen Alam and Niloufar Koukhani. The role of Sima does not appear to be cast yet. Sounds like a counter-point argument will be made by Sadat. The project was supported by the Eurimages fund back in March ’22.…...

Production is set to begin in Greece in November.

Afghan-Canadian actress Mozhdah Jamalzadah is to star in Roya Sadat’s Sima’s Song, which is set to be showcased at the Asian Project Market (Apm) in Busan.

The dramatic thriller is a Spain-Netherlands-France co-production and is set to begin production in Greece in six weeks. It marks the second feature from Sadat, Afghanistan’s leading female director, whose drama A Letter To The President was her country’s submission to the Oscars in 2018.

Set in Kabul, Sima’s Song will follow two friends on opposite ends of the social and...