Born in Kabul, Atiq Rahimi took refuge in France after the invasion of Afghanistan. He is an esteemed writer whose work is precious and important. Published in 2000, his first book, Earth and Ashes is adapted by himself for the screen in 2004 and selected to the Festival de Cannes’ Un Certain Regard the same year. Prix Goncourt in 2008 for his book Syngué Sabour, Pierre de patience, he’s serving up another book-to-screen adaptation in 2012, universally acclaimed by critics and audience.
Atiq Rahimi’s books have been translated into more than 20 languages, they are published in France at P.O.L editions. In 2011, it’s A Curse on Dostoevsky and in 2015, La Ballade du Calame. His most recent novel is Les Porteurs d’Eau. In 2019, he finished shooting his third fiction film in Rwanda, based on Scholastique Mukasonga’s novel Our Lady of the Nile. In 2022, he wrote the libretto Shirine for the Lyon Opera house. Blessed with a visual eye, he also invented and exhibits his callimorphie, art made of drawings and Persian & Japanese calligraphy.
Jury attendance
- Member Feature films, 2023
