Low quality content behind dwindling film industry

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Afghan Cinema Owners Association head Mohammad Sadiq Sarmast has asked the government to pay attention and support film producers and actors.

Sarmast made the call during a gathering that remembered 15 Afghan actors who died in the past two years.

He said the event was organised in honour of those actors who worked for the cinema in difficult and highly insecure times. He said current insecure situation contributed to the dwindling position of cinema in the country.

Sarmast also lashed out at producers for low quality content in cinema, saying this also affected the popularity of their work.

Rasoul Farahmand, film and theatre actor, said due economic problems and insecurity, their work had become limited.

“If some work is underway in Balkh province that is due to personal investment of actors, unfortunately the government does not support cinema,” he said.

Balkh Cultural and Information Department Director Saleh Mohammad Khaleq hailed contribution of some private companies in the development of cinema and art.

He said in the past only the Afghan Film spearheaded the cinema and art sector but currently six private companies were contributing to the sector.

He said the government supported actors and producers to some extent, but now it was an open market and everyone should produce quality product and earn income.

Nh/ma