Early Years and Hardships: During the Taliban regime (1996-2001), Sadat’s family faced immense hardships. The regime’s oppressive policies, particularly towards women, curtailed her education and aspirations. Despite these challenges, Roya was determined to pursue her passion for storytelling and filmmaking.
Career Beginnings: After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Roya Sadat saw an opportunity to follow her dreams. She began her career by producing and directing the short film “Three Dots” in 2003, which was one of the first films directed by an Afghan woman after the Taliban era. The film gained critical acclaim and marked the beginning of her career in the film industry.
Rise to Stardom and Successes:
- 2003: Directed her first short film, “Three Dots.”
- 2007: Directed the feature film “Playing the Taar,” which received international recognition.
- 2013: Founded Roya Film House, an independent film production company in Afghanistan, to support and promote Afghan cinema, particularly women filmmakers.
- 2016: Directed “A Letter to the President,” which became Afghanistan’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards.
Sadat’s films often highlight social issues, particularly those affecting women in Afghanistan. Her work has been recognized at various international film festivals, earning her numerous awards and accolades.
Real Name: Roya Sadat
Date of Birth: May 1983
Birth Place: Herat, Afghanistan
Nationality: Afghan
Religion: Islam
Residence: Roya Sadat splits her time between Afghanistan and Germany.
Profession: Film Director, Producer, and Screenwriter
Partner: Not publicly disclosed
Father: Was a schoolteacher
Mother: Homemaker
Horoscope: Taurus (born in May)
Age: 41 (as of 2024)