Alka Sadat is an award-winning Afghan documentary filmmaker whose work highlights social injustices, human rights, and the untold stories of marginalized communities. Raised under Taliban rule, Sadat’s journey into filmmaking began as an act of defiance. Her mother, risking severe punishment, secretly educated her daughters at home—planting the seeds of resistance that would later flourish in Sadat’s work.

In 2003, following the fall of the Taliban, Alka co-founded Roya Film House with her sister, Roya Sadat. It became one of Afghanistan’s first independent film production companies led by women, focused on producing socially conscious content centered around human rights.

Her early contribution to cinema began with costume design for the film Three Dots (2003). In 2006, Sadat directed her first documentary, First Number, which was awarded the Afghan Peace Prize. She followed with several short films, including We Are Post-modernist, Ma By For You, and 1,2,3? 1,2,3?, which received recognition and awards at international festivals in Italy (Trevignano), Bahrain, and Kazakhstan.

In 2008, she directed Half Value Life, a powerful film on the risks faced by female activists in Afghanistan. The film won six international awards, including:

• Generation DOK — International Young Talent Competition (2009)

• Public Liberties & Human Rights Award, Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival

• First Place (Documentaries), Women’s Voices Now Film Festival, Los Angeles

• Best Film, Egypt Film Festival

• Best Director, Kabul International Film Festival

• Best Film, Bilder vom Film Festival, Germany

Later, Sadat directed A Woman Sings in the Desert and was awarded a scholarship to study filmmaking at Fabrica in Italy. While there, she made a short documentary on Iranian singer Mohsen Namjoo and later worked with Colors magazine, directing Kabul Sea.

In 2014, she directed one of her most courageous works, Afghanistan Night Stories, documenting Afghan commandos on the front lines. The film premiered at IDFA and won the Remi Award (Best of Category) and Special Jury Award at the 49th Annual WorldFest-Houston. Tragically, one of the film’s main characters was killed during filming, a loss that deeply affected Sadat and contributed to her struggle with depression.

Sadat's other notable works include:

• Eagle 4 for TOLO TV

• After 35 Years (2011), a long-form documentary on the lack of family law in Afghanistan

• A series of films for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), including The Elimination of Violence Against Children and The Elimination of Violence Against Police, as part of the Afghanistan: Ten Years On series

Since relocating to the Netherlands in 2015, Sadat has continued her work internationally. In 2016–2017, she directed Fleur op 'e Flecht for Omrop Fryslân TV, broadcast on NPO 2 and Omrop Fryslân.

In recent years, she worked as a script supervisor for Sima's Song (2023), directed by Roya Sadat, and directed the short documentary I SPIT MYSELF ONTO A PAGE. She also worked as an editor for a documentary television series.

Jury Member at Film Festivals

2024 Kolkata International Film Festival

2023: 2019: The Sama International Film Festival in Sweden

2022: Palm Springs International Film Festival

2019: The Sama International Film Festival in Sweden

2017: head of the jury in the 18th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea

2015: London Feminist Film Festival (UK)

2015: 60 Second Film Festival (Afghanistan)

2014: Afghanistan Student Film Festival (Afghanistan)

2013: Afghan Contemporary Art Prize (Afghanistan)

2011: Asiatica Film Festival (Italy Rome)

Awards

2022: Emmeline Pankhurst Lifetime Achievements Awards

the Republic of Women has selected Alka Sadat for the IWD Award

2016: Remi Award (Best of Category), Remi Special Jury Awards, from 49th Annual Worldfest-­‐‑Houston

(Afghanistan Night Stories)

2015 Official Selection Idfa Film Festival

2011: Public Liberties & Human Rights Award, Aljazeera International Documentary Film Festival (Half Value Life)

2011: First Place, Documentaries, Women’s Voices Now Film Festival, Los Angeles (Half Value Life)

2011: Human Rights Film Festival in Kabul (Half Value Life)

2009: Best Film, Bilder vom Film Festival, Germany (Half Value Life)

2009: Best Film, Egypt Film Festival (Half Value Life)

2009: Best Director, Kabul Film Festival (A Woman Sings in the Desert)

2008: Best Director, Kabul International Film Festival (Half Value Life)

2008: International Young Talent Competition — Generation DOK,

Afghanistan Film Festival (Half Value Life)

2008: Best Film, Bahrain Human Rights International Film Festival (1,2,3?)

2007: Best Film, International Trevignano Film Festival, Italy (1,2,3?)

2006: Peace Prize, Afghan Civil Society Organisations (First Number)

2006: Best Film, International Almaty Film Festival, Kazakhstan (1,2,3?)

2006: Best Camera Work, Kodakan Khiban Film Festival (We Are Post-modernist)

2006: Best Camera Work, Kabul Film Festival (We Are Post-modernist)!