The new film saving mes aynak presents an afghan archaeologists efforts to save the ancient site from demolition. The 60minute film competed in the idfa competition for midlength documentary. Us airstrikes as afghans march for peace june 8, 2018 as u. Saving mes aynaks central figure, qadir temori, is an afghan archaeologist more don quixote than indiana jones, fighting forces from all sides threatening to wrench from his country what is deemed the most significant find of the century. Unfortunately, saving mes aynak appears to be a daunting task, one that involves taking on the afghan government and even the united states, as well as china. Nov 09, 2016 the film is an appeal not only to value our past, but to recognize our commonality across oceans and borders. Saving mes aynak it is a race against time to save a 5000yearold buddhist archaeological site in afghanistan threatened by a chinese stateowned copper mine. Saving mes aynak is a 2014 independent documentary film, directed, produced, shot and.
The films director, brent huffman, met with afghan leaders and presented them with a petition signed by 100,000 people favoring site preservation. The film is expected to debut on netflix in january. Apr 22, 2015 saving mes aynak as a film doesnt have the male, american main character as the one whos going to the site. On september 15, 2015, we had the honor of screening saving mes aynak to a full a. And kabul is almost certainly the most strategically useful for maintaining a foothold on the land by an extended family, a great janapada. Huffman brought saving mes aynak to kartemquin films in late 20 through its ktq labs program. Saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he. Dec 29, 2015 theres such a sense of compassion to filmmaking in saving mes aynak. Nov 21, 2016 evanston saving mes aynak, the documentary by a northwestern university filmmaker about a race to save the 5,000yearold buddhist archaeological site from destruction, has been released on dvd and digitally by itunes and amazon. Huffman has been independently shooting at mes aynak since 2011 and was one of 18 out of nearly 500 filmmakers chosen to receive an independent documentary film grant from the macarthur foundation to help him complete the film. Full press kit with directors statement, background on saving mes. It examines the conflict between cultural preservation and economic opportunity through the lens of the afghan archaeologists. Year na released na rated na genre na run time na director na writers na. Jun 6, 2015 dear supporter of our campaign to save the historic site of mes aynak, first of all let me thank you for your support by signing our petition and creating more awareness about the the upcoming destruction of the historic site of mes aynak in afghanistan.
Full frame 2015 selects saving mes aynak kartemquin films. Saving mes aynak is free to watch in afghanistan inside. Jul 01, 2015 saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a 5,000yearold archaeological site in afghanistan from imminent demolition. Any day now, mes aynak, one of the worlds most significant archeological sites, might be destroyed. Saving mes aynak write a new ending for mes aynak facebook. According to the film saving mes aynak, metallurgical group corp. Saving mes aynak examines the conflict between cultural preservation and economic opportunity through the lens of the afghan archaeologists and. Saving mes aynak world premiered in november at the idfa festival and screened in the u. Saving mes aynak, which world premiered at idfa 2014, follows afghan. Saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a 5,000yearold archaeological site in afghanistan from imminent demolition.
It examines the conflict between cultural preservation and economic opportunity through the lens of the afghan archaeologists and local villagers who work and live near mes aynak. Saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he races. The situation in mes aynak, with a chinese company far more ready to exploit the sites resources than to fulfil its environmental and development obligations, may be so untenable that no amount of funding or international demand to complete archaeological work at mes aynak will prevent its destruction. A jury will select the best works that will be screened during the cinemambiente festival. Theres such a sense of compassion to filmmaking in saving mes aynak.
The alliance for the restoration of cultural heritage arch international, inc. In afghanistan a recently excavated a goldplated seated buddha overlooks the china metallurgical group corporation mine. Watch the saving mes aynak official trailer wildmind. The focus of the film is a historic site in afghanistan thats about to get destroyed by a chinese mining operation. The grand prize this year went to saving mes aynak, directed by brent huffman usa. Mes aynaks intrinsic cultural value the prindle post. Saving mes aynak videos write a new ending for mes aynak. The awardwinning film saving mes aynak follows archaeologist qadir. See the beauty of mes aynak, and take a stand to stop its destruction. Huffmans new story about the current situation at the ancient buddhist city of mes aynak, afghanistan and the impact the documentary saving mes aynak has had.
The awardwinning film saving mes aynak uncovers a 5,000 yearold. The film premiered in november in europe at the prestigious international documentary film festival in amsterdam, where work by americans is seldom screened. Saving mes aynak has the unenviable task of making the slow, detailed work of archaeology both visually interesting and narratively appealing. Tricycle magazine, the largest buddhist publication in the us, just published director and professor brent e. Oct 12, 2016 saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a 5,000yearold archaeological site in afghanistan from imminent demolition. The documentary saving mes a ynak premiered at the 2014 idf a film festival.
Qadir temori and his fellow afghan archaeologists face what seems an impossible battle against the chinese, the taliban, and local politics to save. Rescuing mes aynak national geographic magazine the name of this place is understated. There are also special mentions, which this year was two awards for innovative science and archaeological reconstruction. Wright state newsroom wright state grad wins macarthur.
Huffmans film, saving mes aynak, the making of which wildmind helped sponsor. The mes aynak copper bonanza is seen by the afghan government as a vital source of revenue. May 15, 2015 the new film saving mes aynak presents an afghan archaeologists efforts to save the ancient site from demolition. Its really afghans telling the story and sadly ive felt that americans are. By frank carlson november 19, 2014 brent huffman, the director behind the new documentary saving mes aynak, tells. Mcc and jiangxi copper are in the initial stages of building an openpit copper mine 25 miles southeast of. Saving mes aynak as a film doesnt have the male, american main character as the one whos going to the site. Help us bring saving mes aynak around the world, and mount an. Saving mes aynak examines the conflict between cultural preservation and economic opportunity through the lens of the afghan archaeologists and local villagers who work and live near mes aynak. Can afghan archaeologists take on the chinese and the taliban to save a 5,000yearold archaeological site. Film wed jun 24 2015 northwestern professor and kartemquin films join forces to help save a 5,000yearold buddhist site. The filmmakers of saving mes aynak created a save mes aynak day on july 1, 2015 in efforts to promote the preservation of mes aynak and the film. We are delighted to announce that saving mes aynak will screen at the full frame documentary film festival.
May 1517, 2015, recital hall, the shedd institute, eugene, oregon. Saving mes aynak examines this heritage crisis by following the personal journey of afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he and his 550strong crew race against the clock to excavate as much of the site as possible before its destruction. Complete the following form in all its parts to nominate your film for the cinemambiente junior festival. Saving mes aynak follows archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a 5,000yearold buddhist archeological site in afghanistan from imminent demolition. The site contains afghanistans largest copper deposit, as well as the remains of an ancient settlement with over 400 buddha statues, stupas and a. Saving mes aynak is tricycles february film club pick, so subscribers can stream the film until february 29, 2020. Saving mes aynak is an effective and compelling documentary about the attempts to preserve an ancient archaeological site in afghanistan.
On september 15, 2015, we had the honor of screening saving mes aynak to a full a theater at the worldrenowned carnegie endowment for international peace, one of the most important and influential think tanks in the world. Saving mes aynak is also the film of the month at tricycle magazine. Through our film saving mes aynak, our major goal is to raise mass awareness of the impending demolition, creating an international movement to put pressure on the mining company, the afghanistan government, and unesco to make mes aynak a world heritage site. Help us bring saving mes aynak around the world, and. Back in 2009, few seemed to know about or care about mes aynak, an ancient buddhist city in afghanistan. Apr 12, 2015 2015 full frame documentary film festival, day 3. According to huffman, only 10% of the ancient buddhist city has been excavated even though the site has the potential to redefine the history of afghanistan and the history of buddhism itself. Huffman named president of jury of arkhaios film festival.
The films director, brent huffman, met with afghan leaders and presented them with a petition. Mes aynak bronze age site and ancient buddhist kingdom. Jun 24, 2015 film wed jun 24 2015 northwestern professor and kartemquin films join forces to help save a 5,000yearold buddhist site. Nine years after chinese companies took control of mes aynak, copper extraction has yet to start. Saving mes aynak free to watch in afghanistan kartemquin films. Saving mes aynak on itunes, amazon, netflix coming soon. June 21, 2015 the ending of mes aynak the end of its story hasnt been written. The story behind chinas longstalled mine in afghanistan. Mes aynak bronze age site and ancient buddhist kingdom 2500 bc. Check out the documentary film, saving mes anyak, directed by brent huffman, at the saving mes aynak website. The film follows archaeologists from around the world as they race to excavate mes aynak, a 2,000yearold buddhist city in logar province in afghanistan, before a chinese mining company destroys it to create a copper mine. The judging panel unanimously selected this film, and. Saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to.
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