The Prince Of Nothingwood

A joyous portrait of Salim Shaheen, Afghanistan’s most popular actor, director and producer, ‘The Prince of Nothingwood’ is a gripping, heartwarming and often funny tale of creativity against all odds. Having made a record 110 films over 30 years, despite no budget and the country’s ongoing war, Shaheen is ‘The Prince Of Nothingwood’, the man behind the movie industry in Afghanistan (aka ‘Nothingwood’).

A larger-than-life character, bred on Indian cinema and greeted by adoring fans wherever he goes, Shaheen smuggles his B-movies into town halls to the delight of transfixed audiences. About to embark on his 111th no-budget feature, director Sonia Kronlund (a radio journalist who has been covering Afghanistan for 20 years and determined to tell a positive story about the country) joins him and his regular troupe of actors on a filmmaking adventure to the traditional heartland of Afghanistan.

The result is a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of Shaheen’s life and work, the art of filmmaking in a war zone and a thoroughly entertaining portrait of this larger-than-life, ebullient character who spends his life making his childhood dreams come true.