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Logline

ZAHIR explores the extraordinary life of Afghanistan’s legendary rock n’ roll icon, Ahmad Zahir, through the eyes of his only daughter, Shabnam. As she undertakes a personal quest to understand the legacy of the father she never knew and solve the mystery of his death, Shabnam will unveil Afghanistan’s lost “Golden Age” of the 60s and 70s that Ahmad Zahir’s music still recalls for Afghans across the world. In doing so, she will challenge her perceptions of a country that was plunged into 40 years of war mere months after he was murdered.

Synopsis

Ahmad Zahir is a household name among Afghans, Iranians, Uzbeks and Tajiks of every age and tribe. He was a man who broke taboos, crossed borders, and inspired a generation to join the global community. His life has come to symbolize Afghanistan’s Golden Era of peace and progress. His violent death—an unsolved mystery to this day—is equally full of meaning. Coming as it did on the eve of the Afghan communist coup, his passing is a symbol for the death of the country’s democratic, modernist dreams and the beginning of its dark slide into violence, division and exodus.

ZAHIR, explores the story of Afghanistan during its most promising decade and the role of its culture hero at the center of it all, as experienced through the lens of his only daughter as she searches to understand her father and his country that she never knew. ZAHIR vividly transports viewers back to the Afghanistan of the 60s and 70s, a time when violence was not a part of everyday life, when Kabul was known as the “Paris of Central Asia” and young people were experiencing unprecedented freedoms.

Ahmad Zahir, the son of a Prime Minister, pushed these freedoms to their limit—and beyond, defying his upper class family in favor of a hitherto shameful path as a musician. But Ahmad Zahir’s personal brand — of rock-inflected Afghan pop infused with Persian poetry — quickly became a sensation across the entire region. Such was his fame that he found acceptance in his home country, forever changing the perception of musicians in mainstream Afghan society.

But as Afghanistan was undergoing a societal shift towards freedom of expression, the political winds were blowing in. America and the USSR were fighting a cold war, and Afghanistan became the epicenter of the conflict. As more and more Afghans sided with the communists, Ahmad Zahir saw his country going down a dark path, and he spoke out through his music. His voice captured the spirit of the resistance.

It was a dangerous time to be controversial. As a result, the Communists blacklisted his music. He received death threats daily. On his 33rd birthday, June 14, 1979 – the same day his daughter, Shabnam was born – Ahmad Zahir was found dead in his car under mysterious circumstances. While the government media reports that he was killed in a car accident, the bullet wound to his head strongly suggests that it was no accident. Millions turn out for the beloved singer’s funeral—the largest in Afghan history.

Perhaps, with the voice of the people now silenced, they also mourned the end of an era. Six months later, the Russian occupation of Afghanistan began. War quickly followed. At the age of 1, Shabnam fled Afghanistan with her mother. She has no memory of her homeland or of her father. She now seeks answers.
The audience will follow Shabnam’s emotional quest to understand where she’s from, who her father was, and what really happened on that day she was born. She sits down with her father’s band mates, close friends and relatives to get to know him through their stories.

ZAHIR will reveal the extraordinary life of Ahmad Zahir and his mysterious death, shed a new light on a forgotten time, and most importantly, provide personal healing for Shabnam as she reckons with her father’s legacy.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Shabnman Humphrey — Director
Shabnam has spearheaded this project as a personal quest to learn more about her father and her native country of Afghanistan. She is the only daughter of Ahmad Zahir. Shabnam grew up in Alexandria, VA and graduated from T.C. Williams High School. Currently pursuing her Masters at Wake Forest University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Sociology. With over a decade of expertise in graphic design, storytelling, digital media marketing, and photography, Shabnam thrives in crafting visually compelling narratives and steering impactful projects that resonate deeply with her.

Shabnam will delve into a pivotal moment in Afghanistan’s history—the transformative time and boundless opportunities within the arts. Through her lens, she will weave together the poetic legacy of her father, capturing his spiritual message of unity and freedom.

Shabnam hopes to continue her father’s passion for the arts and to protect artists in Afghanistan. She has committed to advocating for the rights of Afghan artists – worldwide. Since 2014, she has been at the forefront of the battle for Copyright Protection for Afghan Artists. Collaborating with Copyright Research & Policy Center for Intellectual Property x Innovation Policy at the Antonin Scalia Law School of George Mason University and the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington D.C., Shabnam’s efforts paid off. On June 2, 2018, Afghanistan achieved a historic milestone by becoming a member of the International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works under the Berne Convention. This monumental accomplishment ensures that Afghan artists now enjoy the same copyright protections as their global counterparts.

Tom Freston — Executive Producer
Tom Freston is a Principal of Firefly3, an investment and consultancy firm focusing on the media and entertainment industries. He is both a former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Viacom Inc. One of the founding team at MTV in 1980, he became Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks in 1986 where he oversaw MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, Comedy Central, and other television and digital businesses. He held that position for 17 years. Earlier in his career he ran a textile import business in Afghanistan and India as well as working in advertising in New York City.

Mr. Freston is Board Chair of the ONE Campaign, an advocacy organization that fights extreme poverty. He is an advisor to Vice Media, the Raine Group, a merchant bank firm, and Moby Media, which operates television networks in Afghanistan and Africa. He serves on several boards including Imagine Entertainment, Moby Media, Vice Media, and the think tank New America. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2005, Mr. Freston was cited in the Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” issue. He has received many industry honors and awards.

Sam French — Executive Producer
An Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Sam spent five years living and working in Afghanistan, where he produced and directed documentaries for the UN, NGOs, aid organizations, and the media, including HBO, BBC, CNN, Channel 4 News and Al Jazeera. He wrote and directed the Academy Award nominated short film “Buzkashi Boys,” which was the first narrative film since 2001 to be filmed entirely on location in Afghanistan.

Sam is back in Los Angeles and is writing and developing both narrative and documentary feature film projects. Sam believes in the power of storytelling to connect people across different cultures, and that if we lift up our voices and share our stories we can change the world.

Adam Dehsabzi — Archival Researcher/Associate Producer
Adam is a Research Associate at the Cato Institute, where his work focuses on U.S. foreign policy, Middle Eastern security affairs, transatlantic relations, and nationalism. He holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago and brings this analytical background to his role as Archival and Associate Producer for the production. He draws on his subject-matter expertise to navigate the complex and fragmented archival landscape of pre-war Afghanistan. A first-generation Afghan-Australian based in Washington DC, Adam brings both a scholarly and personal perspective to the project. This is his debut in film production.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact [email protected].