Mehran Bozorgnia

Finalist, the Rory Peck Award for Hard News 2006

German
Lawlessness in Afghanistan
Shot: Afghanistan, February 2006
Commissioned by ITN / Channel 4 News, broadcast on Channel 4 News

“An astonishing piece of work. For all that to happen – to get ambushed twice – and to keep filming – and to get such great shots – is incredible.”
Judge's Comment
 
This piece provides first hand evidence of how the Taliban has returned as a fighting force in one of the most lawless parts of Afghanistan. The team are filming a burning school when they are confronted by an armed group of Taliban fighters. Despite their hostility to his camera, Mehran Bozorgnia keeps filming as members of the team try to pacify the fighters. Suddenly the fighters are ambushed by armed Afghan police. Mehran continues filming as the team are then caught in a gun battle.

Biography
Mehran Bozorgnia was born in Iran. He attended the Berlin School of Cinematography, then worked as a cameraman in Germany for ZDF and NDR. In 1990, he trained in journalism with NDR in Hamburg since when he has worked as a freelance documentary maker and foreign affairs producer. He has made more than 150 short features for international news networks including APTN, Reuters, Canal Plus, NHK and Channel 4. In 2005, he was a finalist for the Rory Peck Award for Hard News.