In The Room centers compelling stories from Afghan women filmmakers, actors, musicians, and more who refuse to be silent victims despite years of living under Taliban rule. Exploring the complexities of cultural identity, the film is told through director Brishkay Ahmed’s own journey of hiding, then reclaiming, her Afghan identity — even in Canada. Students will hear from perspectives too often silenced, including women who bravely risked everything. Featuring interviews with Nelofer Pazira-Fisk, Vida Samadzai, Sahar Parniyan, Mozhdah Jamalzadeh, and Shogofa Sediqi, In the Room unpacks important ideas and conversations about what’s at stake for women’s rights in Afghanistan and across the globe.
Supported by
Canada
2025
In English, Dari and Farsi with English subtitles
Gender or sexual discrimination
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Shirley Vercruysse
Producer
Teri Snelgrove
Screenwriter
Brishkay Ahmed
Cinematography
Diana Parry
Editor
Jessica Dymond
Original Music
Zhovan Zoleikhapour
Brishkay Ahmed
Brishkay Ahmed is a documentary filmmaker whose projects have been supported by the NFB, CBC, Super Channel, RTA, Bravo, and Cinema Politica. Her feature documentary, In the Rumbling Belly of Motherland, was a nominee for the 2021 DGC Allan King Award for Excellence in Documentary and won the Outstanding Feature Film Award at the 2021 Reelworld Film Festival. Additionally, Ahmed is the creator and co-director of the Afghan prime-time legal drama Between You and Me for Tolo TV, and worked as a writer and director on several police and legal procedurals in Kabul from 2011 to 2019.
Filmography: Story of Burqa: Case of a Confused Afghan (2012); Unveiled: The Kohistan Video Scandal (2016); In the Rumbling Belly of Motherland (2021)
Photo by Angel Lynne
In-Cinema
Date |
Time |
Venue |
| October 8 | 9:15 am | International Village, Cinema 10 |
How to Book
Free for schools, capacity for all films is limited. To book, submit your request with the online form below. Our Ignite team will respond to confirm availability and complete your booking.
Questions? Contact our Ignite team at [email protected]