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Goethe-Institut im Exil

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5:00 PM

Sima's Song

Film Screening & Q&A|Directed by Roya Sadat

  • ACUD Kino, Berlin

  • English
  • 5 €
Tickets

Sima's Song © Ton Peters

Sima's Song © Alba Sotorra SL and BALDR Film

Director & Screenplay: Roya Sadat; Afghanistan; 2024; Original version with English subtitles, 98 min.

In the bustling streets of 2023 Kabul, fearless women protest the Taliban regime, demanding bread, education, and freedom. Leading them is the resilient 65-year-old Suraya. A ruhab melody, played by her granddaughter, transports us back to 1979.

Suraya and her close friend Sima, a gifted singer, navigate Afghanistan’s volatile political landscape. Their contrasting ideals—Suraya, a wealthy communist drawn to the promise of equality, and Sima, a humble, conservative Muslim who finds solace in tradition—clash and converge. Yet their shared commitment to women’s rights binds them in sisterhood.

As Kabul descends into chaos, their friendship is tested. Sima’s ties to the mujahideen force her into hiding in the mountains, triggering events that strain her bond with Suraya. Even in prison cells and moments of despair, their connection endures. They come to see how political factions exploited their hopes for power.
Directed by Roya Sadat, Sima’s Song is more than a film—it’s a tribute to the enduring spirit of Afghan women, capturing their sacrifices, resilience, and unyielding fight for freedom.

The Goethe-Institut in exile invites you to a Q&A session with director Roya Sadat and Aziz Deldar, one of the film's writers. The discussion will take place at ACUD Studio and will be moderated by Ibrahim Hotak. 

Buy Tickets here
 

Alba Sotorra SL

Panelists

Founder of Roya Film House, the most important production company in Afghanistan. With more than 20 years of experience, her productions deal with the human rights of women and children in Afghanistan, always from a human, subjective, and committed point of view.

With her debut feature, A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT, Sadat became the first female Afghan director short-listed for The Oscars. It also received the Special Mention, International Jury Award, Prix du Jury, Public Mention, International Jury Special Mention at Vesoul IFF(2018), One Future Prize, Munich IFF, 2018, among other recognitions for her first film.
Sadat was a pioneer and prime motive force in the creation of famous TV dramas for the most important TV network in Afghanistan and the Middle East, TOLO TV. For her TV series, she has received awards such as the Special Award of Seoul International Drama Awards (South Korea) or Best TV Drama & Best Writing RUMAI Award.

Advocating for cinema as a social tool, she founded a film school RFH Academy, and one of the most prestigious women’s festivals in the region: Herat International Women’s Film Festival.
Despite the difficult circumstances that put Roya’s life at risk, her art explains the stories of Afghan women, seeking to create reflection and change the reality of the country. In recognition of her courageous work, Sadat won the KIMDAEJUNG Nobel Peace Film Award 2021, was featured as one of the top ten thinkers in the world by Foreign Policy’s Washington DC, and in 2018 received the International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. Department of State. She was also honored with the Malalai Medal by decree of the Afghan president for her courageous fight for women’s rights. 
 

Aziz Dildar is an accomplished screenwriter and director.  His academic achievements and work experience writing award winning cinematic film scripts and directing highly impactful television series/documentaries on social issues faced by vulnerable populations of his people have won him international praise and distinguished him as the leading screenwriter of his time.  Due to recent events, with the take-over of the country by the Taliban, Aziz was forced to leave his home and resettle in the United States where he hopes to continue telling the story of his people and build on his professional achievements.