Brent Huffman
Saving Mes Aynak free to watch in Afghanistan

Chicago not-for-profit documentary collective Kartemquin Films will release Saving Mes Aynak free to the people of Afghanistan. The award-winning documentary exposes a Chinese company's plan to turn a 5,000 year-old archeological site in Afghanistan into a copper mine, destroying priceless Buddhist relics.

Saving Mes Aynak free to watch in Afghanistan
Zak Piper
The Saving Mes Aynak Official Trailer!

We are proud to bring you the official trailer for Saving Mes Aynak! Thank you all for your incredible support; without you, this trailer would not be possible. Please join us in watching the film on July 1 - #SaveMesAynak Day - by supporting our effort through Indiegogo (donate by June 26th, 2015). Help us bring Saving Mes Aynak around the world, and mount an ambition campaign to halt Mes Aynak's Destruction and preserve it for future generations: http://igg.me/at/SaveMesAynak

Zak Piper
Saving Mes Aynak Chicago Premiere at Music Box ...

We are thrilled to announce the Chicago premiere of Kartemquin Film’s newest award-winning documentary Saving Mes Aynak on June 2nd at The Music Box Theatre! 

Saving Mes Aynak wins big in Bulgaria and CIFF!

We are delighted to announce that Saving Mes Aynak is the winner of the Silver Plaque of the 2016 Chicago International Film Festival Television Awards. The Award distinguishes Saving Mes Aynak's achievements in addressing the arts and humanities in documentary filmmaking. Award ceremony is on April 20. Get a full list of this year's honorees here. 

 

Saving Mes Aynak also won the Special Jury Mention in Master of Art Film Festival in Bulgaria! Master of Art is the first international Film Festival on the Balkans for art documentaries. We are grateful for these honors and excited for upcoming screenings in Hong Kong, Greece, India, and more!

Sold Out Screening at San Francisco Green Film Fest - more updates!

Saving Mes Ayank had a sold out screening at the San Franscisco Green Film Festival this past Saturday! Thank you to everyone that joined the meaningful occasion. The composer of the film, Homayoun Sahki, received warm welcome from the crowd along with the director, Brent E. Huffman.

Composer Homayoun Sahki, director Brent Huffman, and CEO & Founder of the Festival, Rachel Caplan. Photo by Keith Blackey - for more photos from the festival, please visit Keith's photo album here.

Composer Homayoun Sahki, director Brent Huffman, and CEO & Founder of the Festival, Rachel Caplan. Photo by Keith Blackey - for more photos from the festival, please visit Keith's photo album here.

The following Tuesday, however, troubling news came from Kabul: Taliban assault that left at least 28 dead, over 320 injured.

Source: Associated Press

From what director Huffman was able to gather, none of the archaeologists and those involved in the film is reported to have been impacted by this assault. There is now only a skeleton crew working in Mes Aynak. There are still reports and rumors of looting. The Minister of Mines has been fired due to corruption in the mining industry. The seat currently remains empty - a source of instability over the archaeological efforts in Mes Aynak. 

We appreciate all your support and welcome any suggestions for how we can further galvanize the global community to help Mes Aynak receive proper preservation efforts. Please contact us here to request screenings in your area. We appreciate you!

Latest on Archaeologists of Mes Aynak!

We are excited to hear from archaeologists in Mes Aynak as they purchase necessary equipment and furniture for their work. Over the years the "Saving Mes Aynak" campaign has been able to donate over $10,000 for the archaeologists risking their lives to excavate at Mes Aynak. As announced before, Qadir Temori, the head archaeologist of Mes Aynak, is now the director of Afghan Institute of Culture and you can his familiar face below with the new office furniture, computer, generator, and other supplies. We partnered with Kabul-based NGO Afghans4Tomorrow to coordinate the delivery of these crowd-sourced funds. We all appreciate your contribution!

We are so happy to be able to help these heroes of Afghanistan continue to do their essential work to save the threatened cultural heritage of Afghanistan!

Here is a direct link to support their important work:
http://www.savingmesaynak.com/donate/

Screenings in Afghanistan and Hong Kong in April!

Saving Mes Aynak is screening at the American University of Afghanistan on April 3rd. We are delighted to have this chance to hear responses from the Afghan community. 

On April 23rd, the Buddhistdoor and Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong will screen Saving Mes Aynak. Brent will attend and lead post-screening discussion via Skype. 

April is an exciting month for Saving Mes Aynak. Thank you for your support!

Saving mes aynak Selected to Master of Art Film Festival in Bulgaria and more!

We are excited to announce that Saving Mes Aynak will be screening at the Master of Art Film Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria. Master of Art is the first international Film Festival on the Balkans for art documentaries. 

Saving Mes Aynak will also be in Sweden in April 20 at the National Museum of World Culture in Göteborg alongside an exhibition highlighting contemporary Afghan artists. 

Through October 17 and 23, Saving Mes Aynak will participate in the 10th International Meeting of Archaeological Films (AGON). 

 Saving Mes Aynak continues to run on European TV. The film was featured on French TV on Histoire (HD1) on March 29. KLASIK TV in Croatia will air Saving Mes Ayank later in 2016 as well. 

We are grateful for the film's continued successful run in Europe. This is all thanks to your support!