ROYA SADAT
Roya Sadat is a visionary filmmaker whose work has not only transformed Afghan cinema but also gained recognition on the global stage. As the first female director to emerge after the fall of the Taliban, Sadat broke barriers in an industry that was long dominated by men. Media outlets, both within Afghanistan and internationally, have lauded her for her fearless approach to storytelling, tackling difficult subjects.
Publications like “Variety” have called her a “trail-blazing director,” Her films and TV series don’t just depict the struggles of women; they also serve as powerful narratives that challenge oppressive ideologies and extremist regimes and also part of a broader movement for global human rights and justice.
Her feature films, documentaries have won more than 50 international awards. Notably, her film A Letter to the President was Afghanistan’s official entry for Best Foreign-Language Film at the 2018 Academy Awards.
Critics praised her for portraying a bold and nuanced perspective on Afghan politics and gender issues, calling her work courageous and transformative.
Roya Sadat, in addition to winning over 50 international awards, was recognized by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the top 10 "re-thinkers" globally in 2017. She received the Kim Dae-Jung Nobel Peace Film Award in 2021, further cementing her status as a trailblazer in cinema and women's rights advocacy. The BBC also named her among the 100 "inspiring and influential women" in 2021, and she was honored with the prestigious International Women of Courage Award in 2018.
She has extensive experience in creating a diverse range of films—including feature films, documentaries, TV series, and operas—which has established her as a creative and committed director.
Sadat's career began in 2003 when she directed her first film, “Three Dots” a script she wrote while living under the Taliban, during a time when she was banned from attending school.
Roya wrote her first screenplay when the cinema in herhometown was destroyed and turned into a mosque and watching TV and movies was punishable.
After this success, she co-founded Roya Film House, Afghanistan's first female-led film company, with her sister Alka Sadat. Over the years, Roya Film House has produced over 40 films, always prioritizing women’s rights and advocating for a free and equal world.
Her films and documentaries have won over 50 international awards. Notably, her film “A Letter to the President” was Afghanistan's official entry for Best Foreign-Language Film at the 2018 Academy Awards, drawing critical praise for its bold perspective on Afghan politics and gender issues.
In 2013, Sadat founded the Herat International Women’s Film Festival, showcasing films about and by women. The festival raised awareness of women’s issues globally until it was interrupted by the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
Despite being forced into exile in the U.S., Sadat continued working on her films *Sima’s Song* and *The Sharp Edge of Peace*, which she completed under the most challenging circumstances. She was in the U.S. directing the world premiere of the opera *A Thousand Distant Suns* when the Taliban retook Afghanistan. Although her assets and archives were frozen, she remains committed to giving Afghan women a voice through her films.
Sadat continues her work at Roya Film House and the International Women’s Film Festival and remaining a symbol of hope, persistence, and resistance against overwhelming adversity.
Roya Film House has risen again in exile, led by Roya Sadat, alongside her husband Aziz Deldar, a cinema faculty lecturer, scriptwriter, and actor, and her sister Alka Sadat, a documentary filmmaker and producer. Together, they continue their mission of creating powerful films that advocate for women's rights and social justice.
Roya Sadat famous films, Three Dots, Playing the Taar, After year of Struggle, A letter to the President, Sima's Song, Sharp Edge of Peace
TV series,
Baheshata Khamosh, The secret of this house,Third Line
Opera
Thousand Splendid Sun
founder & President of Roya Film House Director, Writer & Producer
films
Sima's Song
90 min, 2023 Director-Co producer - Upcoming
The Sharp Edge of Peace,
Documentary film 2020-2023, Director and co-Producer - Upcoming
A letter to the President
(85min), 2017, Director, Producer
Playing the Taar
(45min), 2008, Director, Producer
Three Dots
(52min), 2003, Writer, Director, Producer
After Years of Struggle,
Documentary film2014, Director, Writer
Opera
A Thousand Splendid Suns,
Seattle Opera, Commission in 2021 for 2023/2024 Season
TV Series
Khat Sevom -TV Drama (Collaboration with Tolo TV) (2 Seasons – 24 Ep) – 2018 & 2019 – Director
Bahesht Khamosh - TV Drama in a collaboration with TOLO TV - 2009 till 2013
Raz-hay-en-Khana 2007-2009
Music Videos
Beautiful Beast, 2005, Director, Writer
KIMDAEJUNG Nobel Peace Film Award 2021
BBC-100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2021100 Women BBC WORLD -Roya Sadat
International Women of Courage Award, United States Department of State, 2018
Special Prize of the Jury, Wala International Film Festival, 2018
One Future Prize, Munich International Film Festival, 2018
New Hope Award, Malaysia International Film Festival & Malaysia (Golden Global), 2018
Special Mention, International Jury Award, Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema, 2018
Malaysia International Film Festival & Malaysia Golden Global Awards , New Hope Award 2018
Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema PRIX DU JURY LUCENE STANDARD-2018
Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema PUBLIC MENTION AWARD -2018
Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema INTERNATIONAL JURY MENTON -2018
Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema INTERNATIONAL JURY SPECIAL MENTION-2018
Top 10 Global Thinkers of the world, Foreign Policy, Washington DC, 2017
Alternative Oscar Award, Foreign Ministry of Nederland, 2017
Maiwand (Malili) medal, by Decree of President Ashraf Ghani, 2015. Its just a gold Medal I searched for link I can’t find
Special Mention, London Afghan Film Festival, 2015 I wrote to the festival director to send some link or more information actually it was afghan film festival
Special Prize (Secrets of this House/Raaz hai een Khana), Seoul Drama Festival, 2008
Best Script (Playing the Taar), United Nations, Year 2006
6 Award (Three Dots), Tolo TV Film Festival, 2006, 2007 its should find on TV archive
Selection (Three Dots), Festival des 3 Continents, 2005
Best Director (Three Dots), Ravzana Film Festival, 2004 Kabul in the below link some information about this prize https://www.bbc.com/persian/afghanistan/story/2004/09/040930_pm-afg-3dots
Bibi Khaddija Award, Women in Leadership and Business, Year 2015 https://wadsam.com/afghan-business-news/bibi-khadija-award-recognizes-afghan-womens-contribution-in-business-arena-232/?fbclid=IwAR2Pm6DNpWtAyUKVmpcv266wFQS-eajDqj0_ZctpTlp6JQBbC-zCJQrT3JI
Best TV Drama (Behesht Khamosh), RUMI Awards, Year 2013 the program launched in LosVegas should be some link of the show
Awards
Member of International Jury
Chairperson of Netpac Jury, Vesoul Film Festival, France, 2020
Chairperson of the Jury in Indian Language Section, Kolkata International Film Festival, India, 2019
Malatya International Film Festival, Turkey, Year 2015
Third Eye international Film Festival, India, 2011
International Human Rights International Film Festival, Afghanistan, 2008 and 2011
International Didar Film Festival, Tajikistan, 2008
International Kabul Film Festival, Afghanistan, 2007
Afghan Film Festival, Germany, 2006
Street Children Festival, Afghanistan, 2005
Media/Press Coverage / Film Review, Interview
AFP
The New York Times
2017 Global Thinkers - Foreign Policy
United State Department of State - Women of Courage award
Los Angeles Times
Variety – Foreign Language Female Directors
Variety - Afghan Film Maker Roya Sadat Defies odds with her feature film
Variety - Oscar Entry
Hollywood Reporter
BBC Persian
Etilaatroz
Film Reviews
Sonntagsblatt
Huffington Post
Hollywood Reporter
News Line
RFI France
Al Jazeera
Variety
Screendaily
Women and Hollywood
Asian Cinema
RTS
India Live Today - Movies
News Line
IMOVIEZ Magazine
Busan Daily
Hankyoreh Daily
Joongang Daily
Hankook Ilbo
Busan Ilbo
News Naver
MY MOVIES.IT
The Wrap
Gold Derby
Asia in Cinema
Filmo.com
TOLONews
8AM
DW
Opera Review and other article - Interview 2021-2023
Columbia.com
News.Yahoo.com
The Wall Street Journal
Financial Times
Seattle Afghan Opera | | wandtv.com
Peranews,com
Brodadwayworld.com
Aopopera.com
Columbian.com
usnews.com
southseattlemeralworld
hayatlife.com
'A Thousand Splendid Suns' primed for its Seattle Opera premiere | KNKX Public Radio
Nam10
Classical Voice North America
The Daily (UW)
KIRO 7: “New Afghan opera written by Seattle-born composer”
Oregon ArtsWatch
OperaWire
The Seattle Times
Broadway World
Real Change
SGN
Musical America
Crosscut
Northwest Asian Weekly
Post Alley
Drama in the Hood
Eclectic Arts
At Seattle Opera, ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ burns brightly | Crosscut
‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ opera spotlights Afghan women
'A Thousand Splendid Suns' primed for its Seattle Opera premiere | KNKX Public Radio
