ON THE
MOUNTAIN
SYNOPSIS:
Rabia is put to the test when she is forced to choose between saving the life she once knew, and protecting those she loves and leaving it all behind.
FESTIVALS
HOST A SCREENING
On The Mountain is looking for partners to screen with.
We have developed a “screening in a box experience” with an interactive discussion guide, so that anyone can host a screening! We are partnering with festivals, NGOs, universities and art spaces to bring the film to audiences everywhere.
If you’re interested in a screening, please reach out anya.arcmedia@gmail.com and we’ll organise one together!
FACTS & FIGURES
UNHCR estimates more than 1.6 million Afghans have fled the country since the Taliban takeover in 2021.
In 2023, there were at least 8.2 million Afghans hosted across 103 different countries - one of the largest protracted refugee situations in the world.
Conservatively, over 38 million people have been displaced by conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, the Philippines, Libya, and Syria since September 11, 2001.
Any number is limited in what it can convey about displacement’s damage. The people behind the numbers can be difficult to see, and numbers cannot communicate how it feels to lose one’s home, belongings, community, and much more. Displacement has caused incalculable harm to individuals, families, towns, cities, regions, and entire countries physically, socially, emotionally, and economically.
TAKE ACTION
We are excited to share such a tender and complex story, and hope On The Mountain will educate audiences, evoke empathy, and spark action in the midst of continued social and political grappling for why and how we can better support Afghans following the devastating withdrawal of the U.S. military from Afghanistan in August 2021.
This historic moment is an opportunity to encourage a culture of welcoming and embracing diversity in the US through advocating for greater compassion and resources as we support refugee families through their journey to their new home.
Anya Raza | Director, Writer, Producer
Anya Raza is a Pakistani-Dutch writer, filmmaker and economist. Moved by the human spirit, Anya works at the nexus of art and justice, and has over a decade of experience telling stories, distilling complex messages and finding commonality in grey areas. Her thought-provoking, poetic and sometimes humorous stories aim to break stereotypes, encourage critical thinking and catalyze change. Anya believes deeply in building community.
Hila Hamidi | Producer
Born and raised in Southern California, Hila Hamidi is a television writer and producer at Warner Bros. and runs a digital marketing agency based out of Orange County. Her passion for storytelling flourished at eleven when she visited Afghanistan for the first time.
Aisha Azimi | Associate Producer
Aisha Azimi is an Afghan-American digital communications and marketing professional with storytelling experience ranging from international humanitarian organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies. She received her Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communication from American University and Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language & Communication Sciences from George Washington University. She founded and served as President of American University's first-ever Afghan Students Association with the intention of celebrating Afghan culture, heritage & traditions with the university and greater diaspora. She is the Associate Producer on the film, On the Mountain, and is excited to share the heartwrenching story with the community.
THE TEAM
Baktash Ahadi | Executive Producer, Producer
Baktash Ahadi is an Emmy Award winning filmmaker, human rights activist, and TEDx Speaker. He directs, produces, and writes films that explore the human condition and is particularly drawn to stories of forced migration, conflict, refugees, and vulnerable and underrepresented communities.
Joseph Terranova | Co-Producer
Joseph Terranova is a Lebanese-American producer and director who began his career as a humanitarian storyteller in East Africa. His approach focuses on stories that highlight commonalities among all of us.
Sol Guy | Executive Producer
Sol believes we change and shape our world through the stories we tell. His passion to explore art and social change has provided him with a unique creative journey. From his early days as a founding member of the groundbreaking Canadian Hip Hop group Rascalz to creating, and presenting TV shows, producing and directing films, writing books, and managing other artists, he has all the while been implementing innovative socially-minded business practices.
Bryan Gordon | Co-Producer
Bryan Gordon, a Navy veteran originally from Orlando, Florida, brings a passion for impactful storytelling to the world of film and media. With his years of service, Bryan's unique perspective shines through in his work. His past and current projects highlight his dedication to creating meaningful content. Bryan's most recent short film, Split Ends, is a testament to his interest in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
On The Mountain is a slice of life into one of the many agonizing choices refugees have had to make when escaping danger. As a Pakistani-Dutch woman, I was raised between two cultures, therefore stories that span the gray areas of patriarchy and identity have always intrigued me. I was living in Washington DC when the U.S. Army withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. Despite being in the capital of the United States, stories of devastation and unfulfilled promises barely made headlines. My best friend was working as a Pashto interpreter at a military base, and would tell me of the heart wrenching choices families had to make as they fled Afghanistan.
Raised in Pakistan, I remember all too well the day the planes hit the twin towers in New York, and the two decades of devastation that followed in Afghanistan and its borders. Millions of Afghan refugees escaped war and poverty, leaving all they had ever known, in an attempt to survive. As a result, now nearly 8.2 million Afghans live in 103 countries around the world.
Spurred by decades of untold stories of Afghan heroes, I wrote this screenplay in consultation with multiple case workers supporting the 125,000 (and counting) Afghan refugees resettling in the U.S. Our protagonist was inspired by the 14th C. Afghan poet, Rabia Balkhi, a hero - who defied power and injustice, and a martyr - who gave her life to divine love.
With nearly an all Afghan cast, and crew with personal relationship with resettlement, we have worked hard to make every aspect of this film authentic, and believe it is now in a position to be shared globally and spark a conversation on compassion in times of incomprehensible refugee crises.
We hope this film will spark dialogue, awareness and help mobilize resources for the many Afghans whose lives are starting from scratch. For Afghan women in particular, the culture shock can be immense, and so welcoming refugees with compassion, curiosity and support about their journey, can make all the difference in how they land in a new country, and the choices they make moving forward.
FULL CREDITS
CAST
RABIA NOORI
Awesta Zarif
MARWA NOORI
Maryam Yourish
ZAKI NOORI
Sayed Akbari
MOIRA (CASE OFFICER)
Barbara Zablocky
SAMI (INTERPRETER)
Abdullah Amin
OFFICER MANTILLA
Matthew Gibeson
NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
Mariam Zaidi
MUSIC
Sohbat Kabul Kawe - Qais Essar
Spring - Zain Ahsan & Samar Hussain
Memory and Forgetting - Spearfisher
Nothing to Declare! - Art Against Agony
Home - Onyx Music
Martin Puehringer - The Last Breath
Fallen Soldiers - C.K. Martin
Up the Hill over the Mountain - Will Van De Crommert
CREW
DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY
Anya Raza
PRODUCERS
Anya Raza
Baktash Ahadi
Hila Hamidi
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Sol Guy
Baktash Ahadi
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Fernando Rocha
EDITOR
Michael Rothermel
Ahmad Samara
Anya Raza
CO-PRODUCER
Bryan Gordon
Joseph Terranova
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS
Aisha Azimi
Wagma Isaczai
POST PRODUCER
Saritha Rothermel
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Satchitananda Hover
ART DIRECTOR
Katy Grossman
STORY CONSULTANTS
Gulmina Mahmud
Ann Singer
TRANSLATOR
Habib Rehman
ASSISTANT CAMERA
David Lotfi
Bria Granville
CAMERA OPERATOR
David Lotfi
Bria Granville
PRODUCTION SOUND MIXER
Steve Fixel
COMPOSER
Zain Ahsan
CONSULTING EDITOR
Haider Zafar
ARTIST
Musab Rehman
GRIP
Jen Stoughton
Bria Granville
Scout Pruski
SET-HAND
Jacob Audouin
TALEEM PROJECT
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
For all screening and distribution inquiries, please contact: