Alex Gibney-Produced ‘Mohabat’ by James Longley Wins Top Prize at Ji.hlava Documentary Festival

James Longley’s documentary “Mohabat” won the Opus Bonum award at the Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival on Saturday, recognizing the best film in the festival’s main competition. Produced by Longley, Mohammad Sharif Hotak, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, the film centers on a 12-year-old Afghan boy named Mohabat, whose father is killed in a drone strike. Left without parental care, Mohabat is taken to a city orphanage, where the film observes his resilience and daily life. The jury praised the film as “meticulously researched and exquisitely crafted,” highlighting its patient, observational approach. The win at Ji.hlava, one of Central Europe’s leading documentary events, brings international attention to the human cost of drone warfare and the struggles of Afghan children. With Gibney’s involvement, the film is poised for further festival success and distribution, offering audiences a deeply personal perspective on conflict’s aftermath.