A documentary film about the work of Zarqa Yaftali, an activist for women's rights and girls' education in Afghanistan, has won a "Silver Dolphin" award at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards in France. The film is one of the 2026 winners of this prestigious competition.
The film is titled "Educating Hope in Afghanistan: The Story of Zarqa." This documentary portrays Ms. Yaftali's activities in the field of women's and children's rights and her efforts to support girls' education in Afghanistan, especially under the shadow of restrictions imposed by the Taliban.
The film was produced in collaboration with the production company "Peuple" and with the support of the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity." Notably, Zarqa Yaftali herself was a 2026 recipient of this prestigious global award, which honored her work in defending human rights.
According to published information, the award was given to the film for its powerful and impactful narrative of an Afghan woman's struggle to secure the right to education for girls in the current difficult circumstances.
Ms. Yaftali is originally from Badakhshan province and worked for many years in Afghanistan in the fields of women's rights, children's rights, and girls' access to education. After the Taliban's return to power, she was forced to leave Afghanistan and currently resides in Canada, where she continues her activism.
The Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards annually evaluate and honor the best corporate films, documentaries, and television and online media productions from around the world. Receiving the Silver Dolphin is a significant achievement for this film and for highlighting the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Source: Media reports
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