The Forbidden Reel (2020)

According to the official history of Afghanistan, ruthless destruction has always prevailed over art and creation; but there is another tale to be told, the forgotten account of a diverse and progressive country, seen through the lens of innovative filmmakers, a story that survives thanks to a few brave Afghans, a small but very passionate group that secretly fought to save a huge film archive that was constantly menaced by war and religious fanaticism.

Producers	National Film Board of Canada, Al Jazeera English, TVO, Loaded Pictures
Original title	The Forbidden Reel
Directors	Ariel Nasr
Writers	Ariel Nasr

Cast

Ahmed Zahed

as Child Siddiq

Adbul Rasool Khalaqi

as Projectionist

Hamsafar Azam

as Soviet Spy #1

Khaled Aziz

as Soviet Spy #2

Mohamad Yaqood

as Afghan Films President

Farooq Ghulam Baraki

as Taliban #1

Jamil Dakohai

as Taliban #2

Safiulla Sadiqi

as Taliban #3

Zakarya Amin

as Taliban #4

Koko Gul

as Siddiq's Mother

Ibrahim Arify

as Self - Filmmaker

Isaaq Nezami

as Self - Former Taliban Official

Latif Ahmadi

as Self - Filmmaker

Mariam Ghani

as Self - Artist

Siddiq Barmak

as Self - Filmmaker

Yasmin Yarmal

as Self - Actress

Yusuf Jannesar

as Self - Filmmaker

Mohammed Zahir Shah of Afghanistan

as Self (archive footage)

Mohammed Daoud Khan

as Self - Politician (archive footage)

Ahmad Shah Massoud

as Self - Mujahid Leader (archive footage)

Mohammad Najibullah

as Self - Politician (archive footage)