The award-winning documentary 'Paikar' by Dawood Hilmandi will take place at the Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) 2026 event on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 7:30 PM.
The screening will be held in the Robben Island Museum Auditorium at the V&A waterfront in Cape Town.
A Family Torn Apart by Conflict
The film 'Paikar' tells the story of Dawood Hilmandi, a filmmaker born in Afghanistan and living in Amsterdam, who attempts to reconnect with his authoritarian father.
What begins as a personal story evolves into a deep exploration of themes such as displacement, memory, and the sense of belonging. After Hilmandi left Afghanistan and Iran, he built a life in the Netherlands, while his parents and brothers remained scattered across the globe, which is a constant reflection of the impact of war and migration on the family.
Within the documentary, Hilmandi travels back to Afghanistan with his father via Iran. This journey allows for a reexamination of painful memories and a rethinking of their complex relationship, showing a gradual transition from confrontation to understanding. Although Hilmandi's father is initially presented as a restrictive figure, the film reveals him as a complex individual shaped by his own experiences of war and forced displacement.
The Meaning of the Title 'Paikar'
According to IDFA, the film's title is a Persian word meaning 'warrior' or 'war'. It originates from Hilmandi's family nickname and serves as both a source of pride and a burden, illustrating how conflict shapes family identity across generations.
As a documentary, 'Paikar' examines the concept of 'home' not as a fixed location, but as a complex, unstable reality existing abroad.
Event Details
The film 'Paikar' has a running time of 97 minutes. The HACC event is produced by African Film DAO and Holocene Films.