As a new generation of filmmakers from Afghanistan, our aim is to reclaim and assert our narrative by telling stories that have long been buried. For us, cinema is more than just artistic exploration—it's a historic responsibility. In an environment fraught with fear and uncertainty, filmmaking becomes a means of survival and a medium for creative expression.
Each film we create is a journey—a search for identity and unraveling the complexities of our relationships with our homeland and the broader world. Drawing from history and day-to-day experiences, our films seek to make sense of our existence in the face of constant danger and uncertainty. Through cinema, we strive to carve out a space for ourselves, to amplify our voices, and to forge connections that transcend borders and boundaries.
Ilyas Yourish founded Kamay Film in Afghanistan in 2018 with the goal of developing and producing films centered on themes like identity, trauma, history, and memory, particularly focusing on his homeland and its people. However, in 2021, he was forced into exile to Belgium, where he has since lived and worked.
Born and raised in Kabul, Ilyas began his career as a multimedia journalist and TV show producer in 2011 while studying at the Journalism Faculty of Kabul University. Transitioning to a full-time filmmaker in 2019, he brought to his work a rich background shaped by his earlier contributions to various social research projects. From 2012 to 2019, Ilyas served as a research coordinator, researcher, and data analyst, contributing to projects exploring topics such as extremism, radicalization and mobilization, women's rights, and the dynamics of power, security, and local governance in conflict-affected districts.
Throughout the past decade, Ilyas has extensively traveled within Afghanistan, gaining unique access and in-depth knowledge of his homeland. These experiences profoundly informed his artistic explorations.
His projects have garnered support from esteemed film foundations and festivals and have been featured at key documentary markets in Europe and North America.