"Havana Marking’s uproarious, awareness-raising documentary tells us more about the title country than a month of newscasts." - Financial Times
Presented by Singapore Film Society and Young Changemakers.
After 30 years of war and Taliban rule, pop Idol has come to Afghanistan. Millions are watching the TV series ‘Afghan Star’ and voting for their favorite singers by mobile phone. For many this is their first encounter with democracy. This timely film follows the dramatic stories of four contestants as they risk all to become the nation's favorite singer. But will they attain the freedom they hope for in this vulnerable and traditional nation?
World Cinema Audience Award: 2009 Sundance Film Festival
World Cinema Directing Award: 2009 Sundance Film Festival
"One of the most hopeful and heart-rending movies I’ve seen this year." - Boston Globe
"In its vivid, suspenseful depiction of a high-stakes competition for prize money and the honor of being named Afghanistan's top singer, Afghan Star goes much deeper." - Washington Post
"The movie uses the talent show “Afghan Star” as a prism through which to examine the fragmented tribal culture of Afghanistan as reflected in the backgrounds of four finalists (two of them women) and the public responses to their performances." - New York Times
