British filmmaker Havana Marking was the star of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, winning both the Documentary World Cinema Directing Award and Audience Award, but her critically acclaimed movie would not have been possible without the brave candor of the men and women who competed in Afghan Star, the music talent search TV show on which Marking’s documentary is based. Modeled on the UK’s Pop Idol, Afghan Star is both introducing democracy to a hierarchical, tribal society and bringing music back to Afghanistan after it was outlawed during the years of Taliban rule.

“I want to be famous and happy” begins the familiar refrain of one contestant, but as he continues his aspirations become more telling, “so I can sing for my people–they are tired of fighting.” In addition to reading the Ten Things You Can Do to Oppose the War in Afghanistan, check your local movie listings this summer so you can see this daring film when it is released by Zeitgeist in the US.

For more on the film, click here to read a brief interview with director Havana Marking.

—Corbin Hiar

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