Roya Sadat, a renowned Afghan filmmaker, has announced that she received an honorary award at the Toronto International Film Festival (IFFSA).
Ms. Sadat wrote on her Facebook page on Sunday, October 12, that Mozhdah Jamalzadah — a singer and director in the film The Song of Sima — also received an award at the festival.
She emphasized that the two awards were presented in “special recognition of The Song of Sima” and in honor of Afghan cinema and storytelling.
Sadat added that the event coincided with the Canadian premiere of The Song of Sima and was “a special night dedicated to honoring Afghanistan’s musical and cultural traditions” — traditions that have remained inspiring and enduring through the centuries.
She expressed her gratitude to Indian filmmaker Anup Singh and all members of the production team, noting that the film was a joint effort among several studios from different countries.
The Song of Sima stars Mozhdah Jamalzadah and Nilofar Kokani.
This latest work by Roya Sadat is a dramatic and human story about two young women in 1970s Afghanistan, depicting their lives and beliefs amid the country’s political and social transformations.
Previously, in March 2018, Roya Sadat received the “Alternative Oscar” award for her film A Letter to the President, which had been nominated as an alternative to the Oscars.
The award was presented to Ms. Sadat at a ceremony organized by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Security Council.
