Kabul's second international documentary and short film festival screened more than 40 productions from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan, plus half a dozen films from the Franco-German television channel Arte. Martin Gerner reports from Kabul
Iran's artists made good use of the brief period of opening under the liberal President Khatami. However, the Islamic Republic's increasingly rigid cultural policy is now threatening to wipe out all they achieved at the time. By Alessandro Topa and Roshanak Zangeneh
In Ismaël Ferroukhi's recent film, a father and his son go on the Hadj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. In his contemplative road movie, the director emphatically portrays the conflict between generations and cultures. By Amin Farzanefar
The award-winning film "Min Dît" by the director Miraz Bezar tells the story of a Kurdish family against the background of the persecution of Kurds and the miserable lives of refugees in south-eastern Anatolia. Claudia Hennen reports
Despite a turbulent winter at Werder Bremen, the 20-year-old midfielder Mesut Özil is one of this season's biggest up-and-coming football players. His winning goal in the German cup final proved that this young man is already much more than a hopeful. By André Tucic