Finnish Marko Talli, Head of Documentary at prolific Yellow Film & TV, is in confident mood ahead of Finnish Film Affair 2025 where he will pitch Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen’s dramatic documentary project, Secret Reading Club of Kabul.
The synopsis reads how, in Taliban‑ruled Afghanistan, a small circle of young women risks everything to meet in secret and read banned books – from Anne Frank’s Diary to Michelle Obama’s Becoming. They film themselves with hidden phones, all the time revealing a life of defiance, humour, and friendship under constant threat, even when one of them is forced to flee when hunted by a Taliban informant.
It is a film about friendship, solidarity, courage and the power of art in a world where the lives of the Afghan women have again and again been shattered by wars, big-power politics, bigotry and totalitarianism.
“When filmmakers Elina Hirvonen and Shakiba Adil approached me with this project, I immediately saw its global uniqueness,” Yellow’s Talli tells Business Doc. “The film contains footage secretly filmed by young Afghan women – intimate and courageous material offering a window onto a life under Taliban rule, that the world would otherwise never see.”
“This is not an outsider account but testimony from within. For Finnish audiences it resonates strongly, as director Shakiba Adil lives in Finland, yet brings a perspective rooted in Afghanistan – seeing the situation both from inside and outside,” he continues. “From the very beginning, international interest in the film has been strong. Finnish financiers have been joined later in the process. Thanks to the directors’ persistence and the rare access they secured, we now have a Finnish-Norwegian co-production with clear space for further international partners to join what is truly a one-of-a-kind film.”
In the film, even as repression tightens, the Secret Reading Club survives online, proving the power of stories to unite, resist, and keep hope alive, the synopsis continues.
“This film is visually captivating, featuring secretly filmed footage and a strong emotional narrative that parallels Anne Frank’s diaries from World War II,” Talli underlines.
“Narratively, it also echoes Anne Frank´s diaries: young women in Kabul draw strength from a Jewish girl hiding from Nazis. This timeless parallel shows how art and testimony defend humanity across borders and eras. The film was also shot in Finland, Germany, and Iran under controlled conditions, making it an overall cinematic experience.”
“Absolutely a strength is the directors’ motivation to make the voices of young Afghan women heard and tell their stories,” he adds. “Shakiba’s roots give her unparalleled access and credibility – without her, the film would not exist. Together, directors Elina and Shakiba bring strong artistic vision, and Elina´s international recognition and networks have helped secure support.”
In Helsinki, Talli will be looking to close funding and increase interest in the film, both in Finland and internationally. “There are a lot of festivals and sales companies present at FFA, so hopefully the road for the film will open wide.” If everything goes to plan, he will then look to premiere at one of the top festivals in 2026.
“Content-wise we are making a human rights film project, and therefore we have attached also an impact campaign which is getting its strong launch in the UN headquarters (New York) later this autumn,” he signs off.
