Afghan Filmmaker Salim Shaheen at Biografilm Festival

Salim Shaheen, Afghanistan's most prolific filmmaker with 111 films in 30 years, is the subject of the documentary 'Nothingwood' screening at the 13th Biografilm Festival in Bologna until June 19. The festival focuses on biographical and autobiographical films. Shaheen, who attended the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, contrasts his work with Hollywood: 'Hollywood has everything. We have little money and sometimes don't even know if we can finish a film, with the fear that something might happen to us because our land is always threatened.' The documentary, directed by Sonia Kronlund, explores Shaheen's life and his filmmaking in a country without cinema infrastructure. It reveals his childhood dream of cinema, for which he was beaten by older brothers, and his current status as a national superstar. The film also addresses cultural taboos, as Shaheen does not allow access to his wives and sisters. Despite its challenging subject, 'Nothingwood' was acclaimed at Cannes as the funniest film of the year. It will be released in Italian cinemas in autumn by I Wonder Pictures.