Elham Ehsas is an award-winning writer and director originally from Kabul, Afghanistan. He is now based in the United Kingdom. His work in Film and TV is characterized by its stylish, cinematic approach and thought-provoking storytelling.
As a refugee who fled the Taliban, and came to the UK at the age of 10. Elham Ehsas has become well known for telling rich ethnic-driven stories. Each are not often seen on our screens, and his work often explores themes of culture, identity, and home.
indieactivity: How did you get into directing? How would you describe your style?
Elham Ehsas (EE): I started in the industry as an actor. And when the phone wasn’t ringing, I decided to tell my own stories and make a short. I had never been to film school and didn’t know what a Director actually did. I started to watch a lot of short films on Vimeo Staff Picks and Short Of the Week. This way I learnt more about the medium.
Then I took the plunge. My first film was a two-hander called Our Kind of Love. It was shot in one location about an Afghan village girl on a first date in London. It became BAFTA Longlisted and currently has 3.1 million views on YouTube.
The Official Trailer for YELLOW directed by Elham Ehsas
This first short was my film school. I learnt an incredible amount and also learnt what I liked and didn’t like as a director. I would say that my directing style is very much about the camera not moving. If it doesn’t need to and allowing the actors the space within the frame to explore and play.
Do you hire a casting director, or cast yourself? If so, what criteria go into your casting?
Elham Ehsas (EE): I come from an acting background. I know quite a bit about castings. Because my films have all been such low budget, I have always cast myself. I also often work with the same people if they fit the story and the role.
Our lead actress in my new short film Yellow was also the lead in Our Kind of Love. She is such a talent. We get on well so when she was right for this new film of mine, I got in touch!
What went into the casting process for “YELLOW”?
Elham Ehsas (EE): YELLOW was easy to cast as I already had Afsaneh in mind while writing the film. Which can be both a good, and or bad thing. I often already have in mind a certain actor playing certain roles. As I am writing but that’s because they are perfect for the role.
I have made shorts where I needed a completely fresh face. I knew that my pokedex of actors that I know won’t be a right fit. So, I went out looking for someone who will bring the character to life.
Without giving anything away, tell us a little bit about the script, how did you come up with the idea?
Elham Ehsas (EE): In Spring 2022, the Taliban implemented a series of new decrees. These banned music from being played in public, or on TV throughout Afghanistan.
Girls were sent home from school on their first day back. Subsequently, ordered to wear the Chadari. The infamous blue full body veil that became iconic during the first Taliban regime in the late nineties.
I first had the idea for the film when I was watching a Taliban press conference. A decree that all women must now wear the Chadari. I remember sitting there, and thinking about all the women, and girls in their early and mid 20s in Kabul. Who have never had to wear this blue curtain. What if a modern Kabul girl walks into a store for the first time to buy one…
YELLOW is about Laili, a 21-year-old Afghan woman who has been educated. She has never had to wear a veil. Yet she must now go to her local Chadari seller to purchase her first full body veil. As she wanders through the shop, she is drawn to the music from the back store. And discovers a young man, a dis-illusioned Taliban member, secretly playing the Rabab.
In her search for a veil that fits, Laili must confront the new future she faces. The limitations it imposes on her, all while glimpsing the world beyond the mesh of her Chadari.
Who is “YELLOW” for? Who do you think would enjoy it the most??
Elham Ehsas (EE): As an Afghan, I have always been drawn to telling Afghan stories. Stories that can help make a difference, even if it is in a small way. What’s happening in my country right now is unacceptable. Women have been deprived of a right to an education for the better part of three years now. Yellow is my attempt to address this injustice through my art.
My film is for the world to see and feel what’s happening to the girls and women of my country. It is to also remind the international community that they mustn’t forget Afghan girls and women. The world governments must try harder to engage with the Taliban. The current acting government of Afghanistan, and to push them to re-open schools and universities. For women and reinstate their basic human rights.
How long did it take to shoot the entire film?
Elham Ehsas (EE): I am a low budget self-funded filmmaker. Yellow, took was a one-day shoot, not including the footage we shot in Afghanistan which was from a different trip.
How long was the post-production process?
Elham Ehsas (EE): Post production on Yellow was around 6 months. Which is longer than usual for my films. But, there were certain elements I really wanted to get right and it took a while to pin it down.
The film had a lot of talent working behind the scenes as DPs, sound designers, composers, etc. Why is diversity important both in front of and behind the camera?
Elham Ehsas (EE): Being a ethnic filmmaker myself, I always try to work with as many ethnically diverse talents as possible. I was keen to make sure we had an equal ratio of male to female heads of department across the board when shooting YELLOW. I find that when you invite a range of talent from all walks of life to work on your film, it only makes the project richer.
What are your goals with “YELLOW”?
Elham Ehsas (EE): I want Yellow to bring light to the current violations of Afghan women’s rights on the world stage and help contribute to positive change in Afghanistan by the re-opening of schools and universities for girls and women of my country.
What’s next for you? What are you working on right now?
Elham Ehsas (EE): I am currently developing a few TV projects as well as writing a feature film in partnership with the BFI so I’m really excited to step up and tell longer stories on a bigger scale.
What would you recommend to a new director at the beginning of his/ her journey? Any special courses, workshops, helpful books they can read?
Elham Ehsas (EE): Watch as many short films as you can. They are incredibly difficult to make because they have to have the story arc of a feature but in way less time. It will teach you a lot about story and narrative craft as well as style.
Who is your favorite director? Why?
Elham Ehsas (EE): I am a big fan of Swedish director Roy Andersson. I rewatch his films once every few years to remind myself of what true craft and storytelling looks like. It’s amazing how he can take a small moment and make it mean something, and most of the time it’s without any dialogue. That’s what I feel the best short films do, they take a small moment and use that to tell their message, whatever that may be.
What advice would you give directors around the world?
Elham Ehsas (EE): Be true to yourself and tell the stories that move you.
Tell us what you think of the interview with Elham Ehsas. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
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