Chabname Zariab

Chabname Zariab (born 1982, in Kabul), is an Afghan writer, screenwriter and director based in Paris, France.

Biography Chabname was born in Kabul in 1982 and moved to Paris, France with her parents in 1991. She studied law and cinema and also learnt Persian. She was a burglary damage expert for an Insurance Company.

Professional career

Publication

The Afghan Pianist Chabname's first novel, "The Afghan Pianist" was originally a script written for the cinema. In this novel, Chabname tells about the childhood of a little girl, who moved from Kabul to France and grows up to return to Afghanistan to look for the boy she loved. The novel was published by Editions de l'Aube and Chabname is currently writing the continuation of the novel, which is supposed to take place between London and Paris.

Filmography

To the Sound of Bells (Au bruit des bells) (2015) This was a short film by Chabname, set in Tunisia and was produced in 2015 by The Ball Films, and was produced abroad by Godolphin Films SA and had the support of CNC and ARTE. It tells the story of Saman, a young Afghan prostitute (Bacha bazi), forced to dress up as a girl and dance publicly in front of men. He is forced to teach his successor Bijane (another boy), despite being envious of the boy, who could rob Saman of the feelings and the protection of his master.

The Camel Boy (2018) This short film by Chabname, produced by Bien ou Bien Productions, tells the story of a little boy in a desert, who forcefully gets drawn into the business of camel racing; whose hope to unite with his mother again gives him the strength to find a place in the hostile environment.

Hizia This short film by Chabname, produced by Punchline Cinema and Alta Rocca films, tells the story of a migrant farther hastily handing his most precious possession: his infant daughter, to a stranger as he is being chased by the police.