Alka Sadat is an Afghan filmmaker, producer, and director who is best known for her documentary films highlighting the struggles of Afghan women. She was born in 1979 in Kabul, Afghanistan and grew up as a refugee in Pakistan while attending school and college. After returning to Afghanistan in 2001, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Kabul University.
In 2006, she made her first documentary film titled “The Breadwinner” which explores the lives of eight women in Kabul. This film was selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 and won the Best Documentary Film Award at the Kabul International Film Festival in 2008.
In 2011, Alka released her second documentary film “The Killing of Two Lovers”, which follows the story of a family in Kabul mourning the death of their son due to a suicide bombing. This film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was awarded the Best Documentary Film at the Singapore International Film Festival in 2012.
Alka’s third documentary film “The Silent War” was released in 2014 and follows the story of a group of Afghan women who are subjected to discrimination and violence. This film was screened at the Telluride Film Festival, and won the Best Documentary Film Award at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2015.
In 2017, Alka released her first feature film titled “A Letter to the President”, which follows the story of a woman struggling to rebuild her life after her husband’s death in the Afghan Civil War. This film was selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival, and won the Grand Prix at the Eurasia International Film Festival in 2018.
Alka’s films have been praised for their intimate stories which show the struggles of Afghan women and their resilience in the face of adversity. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the Cannes Film Festival’s Best Documentary Award in 2017, and the International Women’s Forum’s Women of Courage Award in 2019.
Alka Sadat is an inspiring filmmaker who is passionate about using her work to raise awareness and tell stories which need to be heard. Her films have been shown in over 30 countries, and have sparked conversations about gender equality and women’s rights in Afghanistan.
