Champions of the Golden Valley, a documentary chronicling the lives of Afghan skiers in Bamiyan, has won the National Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Documentary.
The film follows members of the Bamiyan Alpine Ski Club and their coach, Alishah Farhang, as they build a skiing community in central Afghanistan and later confront displacement and uncertainty following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Producer Baktash Ahadi said the award was a recognition not only of the film but also of the Afghan people.
“This recognition is about far more than an award,” Ahadi said in a statement. “It is a reminder that the people of Afghanistan — their dreams, dignity, resilience and humanity — belong at the center of the world’s attention not only in moments of crisis, but in moments of triumph.”
He dedicated the award to the people of Afghanistan, as well as to Farhang, the skiers featured in the film and refugees around the world.
The documentary, directed by Ben Sturgulewski and produced by Ahadi and Katie Stjernholm, portrays athletes in Bamiyan pursuing sport despite decades of conflict and hardship. The story later follows their lives as many are forced to navigate displacement after the collapse of the former Afghan government.
Ahadi said one of the film’s most meaningful achievements was helping international audiences see Afghans beyond the lens of war and crisis.
“What has been most moving is seeing audiences around the world connect with them not as symbols of war, but as athletes, friends and human beings,” he said.
The film was released through the International Olympic Committee and is available to stream globally on Olympics.com.
The Emmy win comes as Afghan filmmakers, artists and athletes continue to seek international platforms to tell stories from a country that has largely disappeared from global headlines since the Taliban returned to power.
Bamiyan, known for its mountainous terrain and harsh winters, has long been home to Afghanistan’s small but dedicated skiing community. The province gained international attention in recent years through annual ski competitions that drew participants from across the country and abroad.
