Kabul Express Is Selected For World Premiere At The 31st Toronto International Film Festival

Yash Raj Films latest production - Kabul Express has been officially selected in the Special Presentations Programme at 31st Toronto International Film Festival being held from September 7-16, 2006.

The Toronto selectors have described Kabul Express as “an important breakthrough for Indian cinema”. Kabul Express will hold its World Premiereat the prestigious red-carpet special presentation meant for “artistic and daring cinema from around the world”. 

Kabul Express is written and directed by well known documentary film director Kabir Khan. Having shot films in over 50 countries, his first feature film is an intriguing topical story set in post 9/11 war torn Kabul, Afghanistan. Comprising a large international cast all actors have been cast according to the nationality of the characters. Kabul Express brings together John Abraham and Arshad Warsi as TV journalists, who go to Kabul in search of the ultimate news coup: meeting the Taliban. The film also stars Salman Shahid from Pakistan, Hanif Hum Ghum from Afghanistan and Linda Arsenio from USA. 

This eagerly awaited film, produced by Aditya Chopra was shot over a two month schedule in Afghanistan. This is the first international feature film to have been entirely shot in post Taliban Afghanistan. Based on his own experiences as a documentary filmmaker, the director, Kabir was convinced that Kabul Express could be shot only in Afghanistan. 

The country was not just a location for filming; it was a character in the film. His radical idea was given shape by Aditya Chopra’s vision of taking Yash Raj Films to an even larger audience around the world. The making of this film was a very unique experience because there are things that can only happen in Afghanistan, no where else. It takes 6 letters from 3 different ministries to get a visa and only one phone call to organize 30 Kalashnikovs and 2 Rocket Launchers. You can take the keys to a Tank or a Chopper and fly pretty much anywhere but you cannot get a woman to show her face on camera. 

It is truly an honour for Kabul Express to be part of the Prestigious Toronto International Film festival and a proud moment for Indian Cinema.

KABUL EXPRESS – SCREENING DATES:
- 1st Press & Industry: 07 September 2006, 11:00 a.m. – Varsity 4
- 2nd Press & Industry: 11 September 2006, 09:30 a.m. – Varsity 4 
- 1st Public: 15 September 2006, 06:00 p.m. – Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
- 2nd Public: 16 September 2006, 09:30 a.m. – Paramount 1