Captions provided by CCTubes – Captioning the Internet! Clear blue skies don’t bring the same peace for everyone.
Synopsis: Amid the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a desperate civilian seeks a Taliban permit for his American employer, hoping it will secure his family’s evacuation.
Toronto International Film Festival – 2025 – World Premiere
WINNER of the Vimeo Staff Pick Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival
Director’s Bio: Salar Pashtoonyar is a Canadian filmmaker hailing from Afghanistan. His short films have screened at Telluride Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand, and Toronto International Film Festival and featured on CBC Canada, Canal Plus, and the New Yorker Magazine. Salar has received recognition at the Canadian Screen Awards as a nominee for Best Canadian Short. He was also awarded the esteemed Student Oscar at the Student Academy Awards, officiated by the Academy of Arts and Motion Sciences.
Director’s Statement: Afghanistan has been prominent in the news media. It has enjoyed some presence in cinema, but most of these stories have been told through the gaze of others, resulting in a lack of the nuances of lived experiences.
As a filmmaker from Afghanistan who continues to shoot on location with local cast and crew, I tell our stories directly from our perspective to accurately represent us and shed light on events that have rarely received much attention. In doing so, I also ensure we keep cinema alive despite the current challenges.
I Fear Blue Skies is inspired by the last day of Zemari Ahmadi, an Afghan aid worker who did everything possible to make life better for his family and fellow citizens. However, due to the unpredictability of war, he too became a victim of the circumstances he sought to change. What intrigued me about telling this story is that our protagonist suffered at the hands of the people he trusted the most.
Writer, Director, Producer: Salar Pashtoonyar
Starring: Ahmad Zaki, Sami Aser
Production Manager: Parwiz Arify
Editor: Fjordi Spahiu
Sound Editor & Mixer: Reza Heydari
Colourist: Benjamin Wong
Cinematographer: Salar Pashtoonyar
Funding: Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, National Film Board – Filmmaker Assistance program