DAUDISTAN

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DAUDISTAN

By Ariel NASR

Sport - Development 2026

On the eve of Kabul’s fall to the Taliban, Afghanistan’s star runner Daud Ahmadi returns from a Canadian detention center to reunite with his brother Omar. Together, they must confront a city in collapse and fight to reclaim their shattered dreams before everything they love is lost forever.

- Year of production
- 2026
- Genres
- Sport, Drama
- Countries
- CANADA
- Languages
- ENGLISH, DARI
- Budget
- 5 - 10 M$
- Duration
- 95 mn
- Director(s)
- Ariel NASR
- Writer(s)
- Ariel NASR
- Producer(s)
- Yanick LÉTOURNEAU (PERIPHERIA)
- Synopsis
- Once the brightest star of Afghanistan’s running team, Daud Ahmadi is his country’s best hope for an Olympic medal, until he flees to Canada. Locked in a detention center for nine months, he pretends to be studying at a Canadian university. But, with his mother on the brink of death and the Taliban sweeping their homeland, Daud decides to return to Kabul. Upon arrival in the capital, Daud finds younger brother Omar working in the bakery for their jealous uncle, Najeeb, who believes the boys were spoiled by their privileged childhood. When Omar refuses to leave the job that provides him with food and shelter, Daud steps in to support him, helping haul water as Kabul descends further into chaos. Soon, Daud learns that his mother has passed away and Najeeb has taken their home in lieu of repayment of an old debt. Forced to confront the lies they told each other, Daud and Omar mourn their dream of a better life in Canada—a dream they once called “Daudistan”. Defying Najeeb’s authority, the brothers take shelter in a construction site where they are welcomed by a group of misfit boys. Inspired by their new companions, they embrace life on the fringe of society and hatch new plans to flee Afghanistan. But when Najeeb discovers their hideout, Daud must find the courage to run towards hope once more.
- Partners & financing
- Telefilm Canada (development), Quebec Tax Credits, Canadian Tax Credits, Montreal Media, Metropole Films (confirmed so far)
- Production schedule
- Autumn 2025
- Beginning of shooting
- Oct 14, 2025
- End of shooting
- Feb 15, 2026