Texas Premiere
Hava, Maryam, Ayesha
Afghanistan I 83 mins I Drama I 2019 I Dari w/ English subtitles
From experienced documentarian & filmmaker, Sahraa Karimi, the first woman in Afghanistan with a PhD in cinema directing, comes the resonant story of three women from different backgrounds; each living in Kabul and facing a pivotal challenge in her life.
Hava, a traditional pregnant woman is living with in-laws. Her only joy is speaking with the baby in her belly. Maryam, an educated news reporter, is on the verge of divorce with her unfaithful husband when she learns she is pregnant. Ayesha, an 18-year old, agrees to marry a cousin because she carries a hidden pregnancy from a vanished boyfriend.
Each of them has to solve her problem herself for the first time. Karimi's tale, woven with care, narrates the lives of women who haven’t had a voice in years and are now ready to change their destiny.
+ This program includes short film, ANITA
VIRTUAL SCREENING
SAT. APRIL 17 - 3:30PM CDT
About the Artist
Born in 1985, Sahraa Karimi comes from the second generation of Afghan refugees in Iran. At the age of fifteen, she was hired to act in two Iranian films, which led her to study cinema in Slovakia and graduate with a PHD in directing. Over the years, she has made 30+ narrative and documentary shorts, which have been awarded in numerous international festivals.
After 10 years of film-making, she returned to Kabul, where she completed two internationally successful documentaries, which were broadcast through ARTE France and BBC. HAVA, MARYAM, AYESHA, her first feature, premiered at the Venice Int'l Film Festival and went on to screen widely at world festivals, including Busan, Cairo, Kolkata, and the Asian World Film Festival.
As a female filmmaker from Afghanistan, she strives to be a storyteller for her countrywomen who seek to change their lives in a traditional society.
Trailer
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Thank you to our community partner(s): the Austin Film Society, and the Austin Film Commission!
Credits
Writer/Director: SAHRAA KARIMI
Producer(s): SAHRAA KARIMI
KATAYOON SHAHABI
Screenplay: SAHRAA KARIMI
SAMI HASIB NABIZADA
Cinematographer: BEHROUZ BADROUJ
Sound Department: ASQAR ABGOON
MOHAMMAD REZA DELPAK
Editor: MASTANEH MOHAJER
Music: SABA NEDAEI
ALI TAVAKOLI
Cast
FERESHTA AFSHARAS as "Maryam'
HASIBA EBRAHIMI as 'Ayesha'
Additional Crew
Prod. Managers: AHMAD SHAH SULTANI
SAMI HASIB NABIZADA
Asst. Director: MOHAMMAD (KAVEH) AYREEK
Set Designer: SAKINEH GHOLAMALI
Make-up Design: MARYAM FAQIRZADA
Still Photography: MOHAMAD AQEEL PAYEEZ
Investor: AHMAD SHAH SULTANI