Brishkay Ahmed

As the U.S. planned to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in September 2021, Canadian-Afghan filmmaker and journalist Brishkay Ahmed was filming IN THE RUMBLING BELLY OF MOTHERLAND. Revealing the ongoing dangers for women reporters, and the extraordinary risks they take, this brave film provides an in-depth look into Zan TV, Kabul’s female-led news agency. A professional journalist herself, Ahmed documents both the harrowing and inspiring work of young, female journalists over the course of the two-year lead up to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Following parallel news stories as they unfold – two sets of national elections as well as ongoing U.S.-Taliban peace talks – the film reveals the daily hurdles Afghan female reporters and media staff face, underscoring the existential current events that threaten both Zan TV as a media outlet and the livelihoods of the women at its heart.

In the face of exile, five Afghan women’s commitment to freedom and equality empowers them to take the world stage and reclaim their homeland. Through a series of honest conversations, these extraordinary rebels reveal the deeply personal history of Afghanistan in all its complexity, beauty and struggle.

In a remote region of Northern Pakistan, young villagers learn that the line between public and private can become fatally blurred when digital media enters the room.

After her mother dies, Fatima assumes a routine of care for her father and younger sister, but her world starts to close in on her as the days of Taliban arrival grow closer. Through video diaries and phone conversations, she stays in touch with a friend overseas, giving us a sobering glimpse into the looming uncertainty she faces.