kviff.com
News
Festival Guide
  • Tickets and Festival Pass
  • Accommodations
  • Transportation
  • Festival cinemas
  • No Barriers project
  • Kids at the festival
  • Festival Shop
Program
  • Catalogue of films
  • Accompanying programme
  • Archive of films
  • Audience award
  • KVIFF Talks
  • Film Entry
Film Industry
  • Industry accreditation
  • Film Industry at KVIFF
  • Industry Days Programme
  • KVIFF Eastern Promises
  • KVIFF Talents
Press
  • Press accreditation
  • Press Service
  • For download
  • Press releases
  • Photogallery
  • Videogallery
About the festival
  • Festival description
  • Programme sections
  • Awards
  • History
  • We support non-profits
  • Photogallery
  • Partners
  • Why We Support the Festival
  • Contacts
CZ
Sign in
Film Archive

Stray Dogs

Forum of Independents - Competition 2005 / Sag-haye velgard / Iran 2004

Two homeless Afghan children, a brother and a sister, spend their days on the streets of Kabul and nights with their mother in her prison cell. But one day the prison boss forbids this practice and throws them out. The desperate children decide to try and get caught while carrying out a robbery themselves, in order to get back inside. The story, inspired by the reality of post-war Afghanistan, was shot in real locations with a non-professional cast. 

Stray Dogs

Synopsis

Two children – a brother and a sister – rescue a stray dog on the streets of Kabul in Afghanistan. That evening they visit the prison where their mother is a prisoner. Since her children have nowhere to live, they are permitted to stay with her at night. But the following morning, they are thrown out: prison is for criminals, not homeless children. Desperate to return, brother and sister embark upon a series of failed robberies. A fugitive tells them they can learn to steal from watching Hollywood movies. Alternatively, European cinema can teach them how to get caught. The story, inspired by the reality of post-war Afghanistan, was shot in real locations with a non-professional cast. 

About the film

93 min / Color, 35 mm

Director Marziyeh Meshkini / Screenplay Marziyeh Meshkini / Dir. of Photography Ebrahim Ghafouri / Music Mohammad Reza Darvishi / Editor Mastaneh Mohaser / Producer Mohsen Makhmalbaf / Production Makhmalbaf Film House / Cast Gol Ghoti, Zahed / Contact GoodFellas, Makhmalbaf Film House

About the director

Marziyeh Meshkini

Marziyeh Meshkini (Teheran, 1969) studied cinema at Makhmalbaf’s film school from 1996 to 2001. She has been assistant director to both Mohsen and Samira Makhmalbaf. In 2000 her film Roozi khe zan shodam (The Day I Became A Woman) was screened at Venice and won the CinemAvvenire prize, as well as prizes at other film festivals around the world.

Contacts

GoodFellas
65 rue de Dunkerque, 75009, Paris
France
Phone: +33 143 132 164
E-mail: [email protected]

Makhmalbaf Film House
, 14157, Tehran
Iran
Fax: +98 218 952 200
E-mail: [email protected]

Guests

Alain de la Mata
Buyer, Buyer

Other partners
Newsletter

First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.

Follow us on the web:

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
is part of the KVIFF Group family, which covers other projects as well:

© 2025 KVIFF GROUP

Rules for Visitors / Website visitors privacy policy / GTC / Personal Data Protection / Rules for Claim / Rules and Regulations / Contacts