Atiq Rahimi

A widely accomplished writer and filmmaker, Kabul-born Atiq Rahimi’s lustrous career expands into all categories of artistic expression. After fleeing Afghanistan post Soviet-Invasion in 1984, Rahimi settled in France and began working on projects for various production companies, including seven documentaries. His book Earth and Ashes was an instant bestseller, and the film based on it, directed by Rahimi himself, was awarded the Prix du Regard vers l'Avenir at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004. Rahimi is also the recipient of France's most prestigious literary prize, the 105-year-old Prix Goncourt, for his book The Patience Stone. Returning to Afghanistan in 2002, Rahimi embarked on a personal photography project, capturing scenes from his home country with a unique pinhole camera.