When the fledgling Afghan Film was opened in 1965 it produced documentaries and news films highlighting the official meetings and conferences of the government. All these films were shown in cinemas before feature films, which were usually from India. The first feature film made in Kabul by Afghan Film using Afghan artists was ‘Like Eagles’ starring Zahir Waida and a young girl named Najia. Soon after this Afghan Film made a three-part film with the collective title ‘Ages’, which comprised ‘Smugglers’, ‘Suitors’ and ‘Friday Night’. Two other films from the same era are ‘Village Tunes’ and ‘Difficult Days’. All of these films were shot in black and white. Famous film artists of this era included Khan Aga Sarvar, Rafig Seddig, Aziz alla Hadaf, Mashal Honar and Parvin Sanatgar (f). The first colour films produced by Afghan Film in the late 1960s were ‘Run Away’ (Farar), ‘Love Epic’ (Hema Se Ishg), ‘Saboor Soldier’, ‘Ash’ (Khakestar), ‘Last Wishes’ (Akharin Arezo) and ‘Migrating Birds’ (Paranda Mohajer). These films, although not as technically proficient as those from abroad, struck a chord with Afghans because they mirrored their life. However, cinema was still seen only in the larger centres. During the late 1960s and 1970s Soviet aid included cultural training and scholarships were offered to students interested in studying film. However, since Afghanistan had no film academy, future filmmakers had to apprentice on the job. The civil wars of the 1990s were not conducive to creative work and many people working in the Afghan film industry escaped to Iran or Pakistan, where they were able to make videos for NGOs. The Taliban forbade the viewing of television and films and cinemas were closed, either becoming tea shops or restaurants or falling into a state of disrepair. The rebirth of the film industry has great international support and is the most developed art form today. With such a high illiteracy rate in Afghanistan, Siddiqullah Barmak, former Director of Afghan Film, sees films as an important resource which can help to foster major changes. In September 2003 Afghan Film, with the co-operation of AINA, organised the ‘Kabul Cinema Street Festival’, which featured 10 to 15 short documentary films by Afghan film makers.