As the international community reflects on the impact of more than 10 years of war in Afghanistan, Community Supported Film provides an opportunity to also reflect on the situation from an Afghan perspective through 10 Afghan-made documentaries.

You can watch excerpts of each of these films here. Each short documentary offers a personal and first-hand Afghan point of view rarely seen or heard in the US, even after 10 years of intense media coverage. As a series, these films bring to life Afghans’ daily efforts to address their challenging social and economic conditions – providing an insider perspective beyond the battlefront coverage that dominates western media.

Building Local Capacity - Giving Voice to Afghans through Filmmaking

These films were made by Afghans during an intensive 5-week training in documentary production provided by Community Supported Film. After three weeks of rigorous exercises, each student was required to develop and produce a character driven short documentary. For many of them this is their directorial debut as a documentary filmmaker. CSFilm continues its training and production program in Afghanistan.

DVDs available NOW!

To see the full versions of these remarkable films please order a copy of the DVD – $25 for private use and home screenings, $250 for institutional use and public screening* – by sending a check to Community Supported Film, 56 Parkton Road, Boston MA 02130. Please write "TFOL DVD order" on your check. Please email us with any questions at info@csfilm.org or call 617-834-7206.

[* CSfilm's primary mission is to get these films seen and discussed as widely as possible. We appreciate your understanding, however, that CSFilm's trainings, production and distribution work is underfunded. Therefore, when collaborating with organizations or educational institutions we request they purchase the DVD for their library and public screening for $250. Please be in touch with us however if this is beyond your means. CSFilm director Michael Sheridan is also available to present the films.]

Organize a Screening and Spread the Word

We are asking schools, organizations, academics, activists, organizers, and individuals to host screenings and put these films to good use in discussions about Afghanistan, war, peace, effective aid, gender issues and cross-cultural understanding. Find out how: csfilm.org/2011/09/please-spread-the-word-and-screen-these-films-in-your-community-school

CSFilm wants The Fruit of Our Labor films to be seen as widely as possible, and is seeking writers, bloggers, tweeters, organizations, and individuals to link to these films on your web site, blog, or facebook page. Contact us at info@csfilm.org for more information if you'd like to do a story about the films or trainings.

Prevent Another Crisis

As an organization that trains Afghan documentary filmmakers, Community Supported Film (CSFilm) works for an Afghanistan that is not abandoned and left to survive another humanitarian crisis. With these films we seek to raise the concerns of Afghans as we deliberate about our immediate and long-term role in Afghanistan. Read more here: Get the Troops Out? csfilm.org/2011/07/get-the-troops-out/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community Supported Film (CSFilm)

CSFilm strengthens the documentary storytelling capacity in countries where the dissemination of objective and accurate information is essential to stabilization and development. CSFilm trains local men and women in video-journalism and documentary filmmaking so that they can tell stories rooted in their reality to better influence local and international views on sustainable paths to a more peaceful and equitable world.

Further information about Community Supported Film, our current projects and events, is available at csfilm.org

Please email us with any questions at info@csfilm.org or call 617-834-7206.