Nelofer Pazira facts for kids
Nelofer Pazira is an Afghan-Canadian director, actress, journalist, and author. She is known for her powerful stories, especially those about Afghanistan.
Contents
Nelofer Pazira: A Story of Courage and Creativity
Early Life and Journey to Canada
Nelofer Pazira was born in 1973 in Hyderabad, India. Her father worked for the World Health Organization there. She grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan. Nelofer lived through ten years of the Soviet occupation, a time of conflict in her home country.
In 1989, when she was 16, Nelofer and her family made a very dangerous journey to escape to Pakistan. The next year, in 1990, her family moved to New Brunswick, Canada.
Education and Career Highlights
Nelofer has studied a lot! She earned a degree in Journalism and English Literature from Carleton University in Ottawa. She also has a master's degree in Anthropology/Sociology and Religion from Concordia University in Montreal.
She has received special awards called "honorary doctorates" from Carleton University and Thompson Rivers University. These awards recognize her important work and achievements.
In 2001, Nelofer started her own film company called Kandahar Films. She has directed many documentaries, which are films that tell true stories. She has also been a judge at several film festivals around the world. Nelofer has worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on both television and radio.
She often speaks at international events, universities, and colleges. In 2006, her book, A Bed of Red Flowers: In Search of My Afghanistan, won an award called the Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize. This book is a true story about her life and her search for her home country.
Making Films and Radio Shows
Nelofer's personal experiences have inspired many of her creative works.
Kandahar and Other Documentaries
In 1996, Nelofer tried to go back to Afghanistan to find her childhood friend, Dyana. At that time, the Taliban group was in control. Her journey was not successful, but it became the idea for the film Kandahar. This movie came out in 2001 and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival, a very famous film event.
The film became well-known after the events of September 11, 2001. Nelofer starred as herself in Kandahar, which was a mix of true events and fictional storytelling based on her trip. She won an acting award for her performance in the film.
Later, Nelofer helped make Return to Kandahar, a documentary about her second trip to Afghanistan in 2002. She was still trying to find her friend. This documentary won a Gemini Award in Canada in 2003. She also appeared in another documentary called The Giant Buddhas.
In 2008, Nelofer directed and produced Audition, a documentary about images and movies in Afghanistan. She also wrote and directed Act of Dishonour (2010), a dramatic film about the challenges faced by people returning to their homes.
Writing and Radio Work
Nelofer's radio documentary, Of Paradise and Failure, won a silver medal at a New York media awards ceremony. She has also written articles for newspapers and magazines like the Toronto Star and The Independent.
Helping Others: Humanitarian Work
Nelofer is very dedicated to helping others. She started a charity called the Dyana Afghan Women's Fund (www.dawf.ca). This fund is named after her childhood friend, Dyana, and it helps provide education and skills for women in Afghanistan.
She has also worked with UNESCO, which is a part of the United Nations, to help with cultural projects in Afghanistan. Nelofer was also the president of PEN Canada, a group that supports freedom of expression. In 2009, she traveled with the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, as a cultural representative to countries like Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece.
Films by Nelofer Pazira
- Kandahar (2001)
- Return to Kandahar (2003)
- The Giant Buddhas (2005)
- Audition (2008)
- Act of Dishonour (2010)
- This is Not a Movie (2019)
See also
In Spanish: Nelofer Pazira para niños
