Afghan-Dutch Filmmaker's Debut "Paikar" to Premiere at IDFA

Taskovski Films has announced the acquisition of the sales rights to the documentary "Paikar," the debut feature by Afghan-Dutch filmmaker Dawood Hilmandi. The film is set to world premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in the Luminous section.

Born in Afghanistan and raised in exile, Hilmandi grew up in the shadow of his father, Baba, a former mujahideen fighter who later became an imam, writer, and poet. For years, Baba's silence and authority ruled the household, leaving little room for questions or tenderness. Yet behind his sternness lived a man of reflection and sensitivity, whose words and verses hinted at a gentleness rarely shown.

When life and loss bring Hilmandi back to his father's side, he begins a journey to bridge the distance between them. Together, they retrace Baba's past across Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, through places marked by faith and violence, exile and return. The film is an intimate exploration of the invisible wounds carried by those who live in the shadow of conflict.