# Oscar-Nominated Director James Longley Talks His Afghanistan Documentary ‘Mohabat’ and Why His Next Film Will Center on the Rohingya Genocide (EXCLUSIVE)

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/oscar-nominated-director-james-longley-talks-his-afghanistan-documentary-mohabat-and-why-his-next-film-will-center-on-the-rohingya-genocide-exclusive/
- Published: 2026-11-01T20:27:44+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T21:21:14+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/global/james-longley-mohabat-rohingya-genocide-1236936781/
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- James Longley plans a documentary on the Rohingya genocide.
- “Mohabat” follows a boy whose father was killed in a drone strike.
- Longley says no feature documentary has covered the Rohingya genocide.

## Summary

James Longley says his next documentary will focus on the Rohingya genocide, a subject he began filming with producer Diane Weyermann before her death in 2021. He argues that, despite formal recognition of the genocide by the United States, the EU and the British government, no feature documentary has yet been made about it.

His latest film, “Mohabat”, which won the top award at the Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival, follows a 12-year-old Afghan boy trying to support his family after a US drone strike killed his father. Longley says he spent two years filming and wants the film to help Western audiences understand Afghan experiences during the 20-year war and under Taliban rule. The Rohingya project is planned ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2017 genocide.

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