Photography Nasim Fekrat

Siddiq Barmak was born in Panjshir, Afghanistan, on September 7, 1962. He got his M.A degree in cinema direction from the Moscow film institut (VGIK) in the year 1987.
He has written a few screenplays and has made a few short films and also his first feature film "Osama" in Afghanistan. He was the manager of the Afghan Film governmental organization from 1992 to 1996 and after the establishment of the new government he was once again chosen to manage the Afghan film organization. All his works were banned during the time of the Taliban.

Center of art & culture of Afghanistan is result of consistent attempts of CACA-Kabul members. Our friends in CACA-Kabul are persons who have had activities in diverse arenas of art. Most of these activities had been focused out side of Afghanistan. At the beginning of the Transitional government and when the Situation of cultural and art prepared in Afghanistan

,our personal efforts joined together and led to organizing Center of art & culture of Afghanistan. Center of art & culture of Afghanistan is an umbrella to protect from interests of independent cultured and art people and also tries to help and encourage them for producing art works. If art work doesn't produce in Afghanistan there will be no art.The artist's purse (financial sources) in the past had been the government in Afghanistan and in the present situations government and political parties have their own art groups. The art work that is made for them has lot of publicities, in the middle of them there are also some persons who their free soul doesn't accord with any other things but, with real art. But this group also faces a lot of problems to prepare life facilities .Center of art and culture of Afghanistan tries to open new ways to support from this group.Our activities in Center of art & culture of Afghanistan Provide and producing of documentary and narrative films. Creating art training courses. Organizing rover film showing groups Forming art gallery Supporting foreign art groups inside of AfghanistanEncourage and support from women handicrafts in Afghanistan Sending artist's art works to international festivals. Center of art and culture of Afghanistan in these backgrounds and other cases is ready to cooperate with all references interested to cultural works in Afghanistan.

Turquoise Mountain is investing in the regeneration of the historic commercial center of Kabul, providing basic services, saving historic buildings and constructing a new bazaar and galleries for traditional craft business. It has established a Center for Traditional Afghan Arts and Architecture , gathering some of the greatest Masters in Afghanistan and training students to produce masterpieces in wood, calligraphy and ceramics.



The center has been used to develop new Afghan designs, promote Afghan handicrafts through national and international exhibitions and media campaigns, open new markets, restore key parts of the Kabul museum collection, renovate public spaces and build capacity in the government and universities.



Most importantly however, the Foundation uses the resources and skills of the Center to serve Afghan communities. Its particular focus has been the area of Murad Khane in the old city but it has also worked in a fort in Kart-e-Parwan and invested in the potter's community in the village of Istalif. In each case, the Foundation has delivered services to the community, supported local business, trained local students, protected historic areas, attracted visitors and improved living standards.

Reel Afghanistan is an initiative of Education Through Art, which aims to create an educational and artistic dialogue between Afghanistan and the UK. It will take place in Edinburgh from 21st - 28th February 2008.

The aim of the festival is to build awareness of issues surrounding Afghanistan in the UK, as well as provide an outlet for Afghan cinema and culture events.

Through the festival, we also hope to celebrate Afghan culture and arts, as well as supporting their artists through exhibiting their work. We also hope to build our contacts with other individuals and organisations involved in artistic projects related to Afghanistan, as well as network and create partnerships from our base in the UK.

The New Afghan Website in Pashto www.zhwandun.com Bible teachings, Poetries, Stories etc...