ABOUT THE FILM
A Story of Uncertainty, Resilience, and Hope
August After unfolds across three acts, chronicling the dramatic and emotional journey of 376 individuals who fled Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul, aided by an international coalition of volunteers. The film weaves together the perilous escape, the uncertain limbo of temporary status, and the suspenseful outcomes of resettlement.
Kabul Falls
One minute before midnight on August 31, 2021, the last American flight took off from Hamid Karzai International Airport under heavy security. The Taliban described it as a “historic moment” of “full independence’ while thousands who didn’t make it out went into hiding with no idea what to do next.
Pleas for Help
Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, stranded Afghans turned to their networks, reaching out to anyone they knew in a desperate bid for escape.
Operation “Bella”
After days of plotting dead-end escape routes, word began to spread about privately funded flights attempting to leave from a city 256 miles north of Kabul. Operation Bella was “the best of a number of bad ideas” conceived by a U.S. group of volunteers. Their mission would require millions of dollars and a nail biting journey through Taliban controlled check points, a hiding spot, a commercial airplane and a country willing to accept nearly 400 refugees.
The Waiting
Operation Bella is a testament to collaboration and courage, bringing refugees to Albania in a desperate bid for safety. There, in a state of limbo, they anxiously await news that will define their futures. Will they secure visa approvals to begin new lives in America? Or will they face the unthinkable prospect of returning to Afghanistan? This period of waiting is marked by both hope and fear, as families grapple with the fragile uncertainty of what lies ahead.
New Beginnings
As some refugees receive approvals and begin relocating to the United States, Canada, and other countries, the film shifts to their next chapter: rebuilding lives in unfamiliar lands. For many, this marks a new beginning filled with both promise and struggle as they navigate the gap between surviving and thriving.