Award-winning feature film Sima’s Song by renowned Afghan director Roya Sadat will headline the 11^th Ghan International Film Festival Australia (GIFFA) later this month.

Fahim Hashimy, the festival’s director, says the film is an exciting addition to the program which has previously focused on short films and documentaries.

Sima’s Song, which premiered at the Tokyo Film Festival in 2024, tells the story of two female college friends from different backgrounds at a time of political upheaval in Afghanistan in 1978.

“It’s an important piece of cinema by a female filmmaker depicting Afghanistan at a different time so it offers insight into the social aspect of the country then and now,” Fahim says.

Fahim, a filmmaker and TAFE SA graduate, established GIFFA in 2016 to provide a platform for films made in or about Afghanistan.

More than a decade on, the festival continues to champion the stories of Afghan people, although it’s a goal made harder by the closure of the country’s film industry in 2021.

Fahim concedes the past few years have been challenging for the festival, but he remains determined to share the voices of Afghan filmmakers and the stories that aren’t covered by mainstream news services.

“In the early days of the film festival, Afghanistan was a stable country and we had films being made there - in the first year we received 120 films for possible selection,” he says.

“We wanted to show Afghan cinema to Australia and the world because their voices hadn’t been heard.

“Now we have to work harder to source films by Afghan filmmakers, but we see it as our responsibility to support Afghan cinema and storytelling.”

This year’s program reflects diverse filmmaking styles and techniques including short film, documentary and one made on a mobile phone, but all offer important insights into the country and the resilience of its people.

For the first time, there will be an online component at this year’s festival with Fahim’s recent documentary Salam Sangi showing on the final day.

Salam Sangi explores the golden era of Afghan cinema through the life and legacy of Salam Sangi, one of the country’s most celebrated actors of the 1980s and 1990s.

Fahim first discovered an interest in filmmaking after moving from his home country of Afghanistan to Iran and then Pakistan.

By the time he came to Australia at the end of 2008 he already had several films on his resume.

At TAFE SA, he studied a Certificate III in English and a Certificate II in Information Technology before pursuing his interest in filmmaking with the Diploma of Screen and Media (Film and Television Production). He has also completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health.

Through TAFE SA, he was introduced to contacts at Channel 44 where he produced a weekly TV show, Farda TV.

While storytelling is Fahim’s passion, he says running the film festival enables him to support other filmmakers and share their stories.

“I want to encourage people to come along. The festival offers a unique opportunity to see Afghan culture, these films show you behind the news and stereotypes and foster a greater understanding of Afghan people,” he says.

The Ghan International Film Festival Australia will be held at the Mercury Cinema on Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26, and online on Sunday, September 27 before going to Melbourne and Sydney. More information and tickets are available on the GIFFA website.

Pictured: A scene from feature film Sima's Song.