In 2025, New Zealand and the world will mark six years since the Christchurch attacks.
Bariz Shah and Saba Afrasyabi had been planning to work on humanitarian projects after their studies.
The Christchurch Mosque attacks on the 15th of March 2019 hastened the couple’s plans.
Within a few weeks following the tragic event, the couple began a project in Afghanistan to honour the 51 people who were martyred.
They chose a hand-up, not a hand-out, charitable-type structure to fund 51 micro-businesses on the streets of Kabul, ensuring long-lasting effects for individuals and families and a broad reach.
After raising NZD 20,000 via social media and crowdfunding, Bariz and Saba left for their birth country. This has led to an incredible humanitarian journey documented through the feature film project fiftyone.
Despite having no filming experience, they gained extraordinary access to the lives, hopes, and dreams of their recipients.
project fiftyone is a journey from tragedy to triumph, a positive response to evil. Bariz and Saba’s own stories as Muslims living in the West also weave through the film, making a powerful choice to meet hate with love.
Written by Gaylene Barnes and Virginia Wright, executive produced by Jill Macnab and Phil Bremner and made with the support of the New Zealand Film Commission and Screen CanterburyNZ Production Grant, project fiftyone will be in theatres from Thursday, the 3rd of April, 2025.
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