Revered Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah (“Monsoon Wedding”) has joined the Oscar-qualifying documentary “Far From Home” as executive producer, marking his first foray into the documentary space in this capacity.
The short doc, currently campaigning for best documentary short at the Academy Awards, chronicles the plight of Afghan refugees in India through the story of Samira Faizi, who fled to the country in 2021 following the Taliban‘s takeover of Afghanistan.
“The film showcases her struggle in setting up base in India, whose political environment has changed and is no longer welcome for refugees. The film sheds light on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), that excludes Muslim refugees from a pathway towards citizenship and its impact on Afghan refugees, who have no country to go back to,” according to the film’s synopsis.
“I’ve always believed the most important function of cinema is to act as a record of its times,” Shah said. “Since it is the only medium that can do that I consider documentaries to be of more value for posterity than features.”
“Refugee rights is a tricky topic in India and given the current political scenario, refugees are scared to talk or come forth in public,” said Kumar, a former journalist. “I am proud of Samira for her bravery in telling her story and bringing awareness across the world about the situation of Afghan refugees in India.”
“When one thinks of refugees, they usually visualize them on a boat going to Europe or on the US-Mexico border. But rarely do we talk about refugees who are in parts of the world where there is no framework to integrate them,” she added.
Emmy-winning producer Brent E. Huffman produces the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting-funded project, which was a Japan Prize finalist and runner-up for best short documentary at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.
“Far From Home” has made the rounds at multiple festivals, including the Oscar-qualifying American Documentary and Animation Film Festival and Tasveer Film Festival. The doc’s awards campaign includes several upcoming screenings across the U.S.
