Afghanistan filmmaker Roya Sadat has captured a powerful story in her new documentary, The Sharp Edge of Peace, which debuted at the Hot Docs festival. The film highlights the courage of four Afghan women leaders—Fatima Gailani, Fawzia Koofi, Habiba Sarabi, and Sharifa Zumati—who face life-threatening risks to participate in peace talks with the Taliban, fighting for justice and women’s rights.
Sadat, known for her Oscar-contending film A Letter to the President in 2017, was motivated to make this film during a challenging time when the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, a period she recalls as a terrifying and dark five years. She was astounded by the unheard historical struggles of Afghan women, particularly the audacious step these four women took by joining the Taliban negotiation table.
The filming of The Sharp Edge of Peace began in 2020 amidst the volatile atmosphere of Kabul before the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the Taliban’s return. Filming these women was fraught with danger and difficulties, from securing necessary permissions to coordinating with the negotiation team amid heightened security concerns.
Sadat, along with producer Leslie Thomas and her co-producer and husband Aziz Deldar, sought help from international and governmental contacts to support their independent filmmaking efforts.
By 2021, the situation in Kabul worsened as the Taliban took control, forcing Sadat, Deldar, and their film’s subjects into exile. Continuing the documentary in America without proper travel documents and limited resources posed significant challenges.
Despite these hurdles, they also focused on the ongoing resistance of women in Kabul, which Sadat believes marks a critical moment in the history of women’s struggles and the unclear path of peace talks.
Afghan Filmmaker Roya Sadat on Her Journey Filming the Journey of Women Opposing the Taliban in Hot Docs Title 'The Sharp Edge of Peace' https://t.co/nwy7htA1vr
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The documentary was completed against tremendous odds, thanks to the dedication of Leslie Thomas, Aziz Deldar, and their courageous team who persevered through the extreme insecurity in Kabul. However, showing
The Sharp Edge of Peace in Afghanistan is currently impossible under Taliban rule, as they have stripped women of basic rights. Sadat remains hopeful that someday, the film will be shown in Afghanistan’s major cities like Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar when the country regains its freedom. Source
