Director Kevin Macdonald has a big weekend ahead of him. His own documentary, High And Low- John Galliano, following the achievements of a highly controversial fashion designer, is premiering at the Telluride Film Festival on Friday, as well as his new short, Last Song From Kabul, screening on Saturday.
Last Song From Kabul follows a group of girls with a passion for music, but their aspirations are threatened when the Taliban takes over. Deadline gave a special first look at the trailer from MTV Documentary Films, with a debut on Paramount+ later this fall.
“When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, music was forbidden and punishable by the death penalty,” reads a synopsis. “Young girls who belonged to a quiet music school had to go into hiding where they feared for themselves and their families. Now orphans with broken hearts, Last Song from Kabul tells the riveting, heroic story of their escape to Portugal where they try to rebuild their fractured lives and begin to play music again.”
“Each of these female musicians have been uprooted from everything and everyone they know. The music they create together has kept them going, acting as a symbol of strength for many. It is an honor to tell their stories and I’m excited for others to be introduced to these heroes,” Macdonald himself went on to say.
“When I first heard about the music school, I immediately knew the stories of these young girls needed to be documented for the world to see,” Sheila Nevins had to say. Nevins is the executive producer of MTV Documentary Films. “Within great sadness and despair, these girls have found a way to make beautiful music together helping them make it through their darkest of days. They are the definition of resilience.”
The feature, on top of being directed by Macdonald, is executive produced by Lawrence Elman, Nick Fraser, Duncan Heath, Francis Hopkinson, and Jessica Lustig. Dr. Ahmad Sarmast, Nina L. Diaz, Liza Burnett Fefferman, and Sheila Nevins are credited as executive producers on behalf of MTV Documentary Films.
Check out the trailer for the feature below.