On Heels of Emmy Nomination, The Asia Foundation Announces Production of 'The Observer'

On Heels of Emmy Nomination, The Asia Foundation Announces Production of 'The Observer'

New Documentary Film Presented By Foundation's Digital Media Lab

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its 2005 Emmy nomination for "Afghanistan Unveiled," The Asia Foundation announced today that a new documentary film, "The Observer," is currently in post-production. Produced and directed by Bay Area filmmaker John C. Karr, the film is set against the chaotic first parliamentary election in Afghanistan in more than 25 years -- and revolves around the complex, dangerous work of young election observers from across Asia. A series of special preview test screenings of this work-in-progress will be held in conjunction with the 29th Mill Valley Film Festival in Mill Valley, California.

Muhammad "Badrul" Hisham Bin Ismail is a young Malaysian, Muslim man who hesitantly embarks on a risk-filled journey to join an election mission to Afghanistan in 2005. Skeptical yet curious, inexperienced but committed, Badrul is a newcomer to international election observation. His experiences, and that of the other young observers, will lead them all to face some hard truths about Afghanistan -- and themselves.

"The Observer" was produced and directed by Karr and was shot entirely in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Thailand. The film is a production of The Asia Foundation's Digital Media Lab.

For more information, please visit www.observer-movie.com.

About The Digital Media Lab

The Digital Media Lab, founded by The Asia Foundation and based in San Francisco, identifies and presents relevant Asia-Pacific region stories to audiences around the world. The lab generates compelling documentary film and broadband media, including a growing online archive of video interviews with Asian and U.S. leaders. A core objective of the Digital Media Lab is to encourage the use of digital media as a communications tool by Asia Foundation partners. In 2005, "Afghanistan Unveiled," a documentary film launched by the Digital Media Lab and produced by Foundation-supported Afghan women journalists, received an Emmy nomination for Best Long Form Documentary.

About The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance and law, economic reform and development, women's empowerment, and international relations. Drawing on 50 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With a network of 18 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2005, the Foundation provided more than $61 million in program support and distributed 1.1 million books and educational materials valued at $28 million throughout Asia.

For more information, please visit www.asiafoundation.org.

Contact:
Debbie Felix
The Asia Foundation
415-743-3340
dfelix@asiafound.org

Source: The Asia Foundation

CONTACT: Debbie Felix of The Asia Foundation, +1-415-743-3340, or
dfelix@asiafound.org

Web site: http://www.asiafoundation.org/
http://www.observer-movie.com/

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