As anticipation builds for the Toronto Film Festival, the acclaimed documentary short “Forgotten Spaceman” has garnered significant industry support. Directed by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Elham Ehsas, the film recently won the Leopard of Tomorrow award at Locarno’s Junior Jury Awards and is now set to feature Khan & Kumar Media and Prism Entertainment as executive producers.
New Executive Producers Join the Team
The newly announced executive producers include Sharib Khan and Vikas Kumar from Khan & Kumar Media, alongside Shruti Ganguly, Priya Giri Desai, and Megha Kadakia of Prism Entertainment. Their partnership comes just in time for the film’s North American premiere in Toronto following its successful debut in Locarno.
A Collaborative Production Effort
“Forgotten Spaceman” is also executive produced by Jack Thomas O’Brien from Ken Loach and Rebecca O’Brien’s Sixteen Films, along with Catherine Tschaepe. The documentary is produced by Lorraine Bhattachary of MonoFilm Productions, with Dheeraj Agnihotri, known for his work on “Holy Curse,” serving as associate producer. International sales and festival strategy are managed by María Vera of Kino Rebelde.
Exploring a Unique Story
Written, directed, and edited by Ehsas, the documentary delves into the life of Abdul Ahad Momand, Afghanistan’s first and only astronaut. In 1988, Momand made a historic journey to the Mir space station, providing a fleeting moment of hope for a country on the brink of collapse. Momand notably became the first individual to speak Pashto in space during an orbital call to his mother, marking it as the fourth language ever used in that domain. Ehsas interweaves his own connections to Momand’s narrative, examining themes of home, identity, exile, and belonging.
Encouragement and Enthusiasm from the Team
Expressing his excitement, Ehsas stated, “As we continue sharing Abdul Ahad Momand’s remarkable story with audiences around the world, it’s incredibly encouraging to have such passionate partners alongside us. I hope the film continues to spark conversations about home, identity, exile, and belonging wherever it travels.”
Producer Lorraine Bhattachary emphasized the importance of collaboration in filmmaking, saying, “We’re thrilled to reach this next chapter together. It’s been wonderful bringing these partnerships together, and we’re excited to continue sharing the film with audiences as its festival journey continues.”
Testimonials from the Executive Producers
Sharib Khan and Vikas Kumar from Khan & Kumar Media praised “Forgotten Spaceman,” stating, “It uncovers a remarkable chapter of history that many of us never knew existed, while remaining deeply personal and profoundly human. Beyond the story of Afghanistan’s first astronaut, it explores universal themes of memory, identity, belonging, and the stories that risk being forgotten.”
The trio from Prism Entertainment echoed similar sentiments, remarking, “Elham’s movie contains volumes of Afghan, South Asian, and world history while being so deeply personal and profound, forcing us to reconcile ourselves with disruptions that are beyond one’s control. We are thrilled to join ‘Forgotten Spaceman’ as executive producers as we bring this story to audiences who will reconnect with it and those who will discover it for the first time.”
A Closer Look at Elham Ehsas
Elham Ehsas is a celebrated filmmaker whose previous work includes the short film “Yellow,” which received a BAFTA nomination in 2024. His follow-up short, “There Will Come Soft Rains,” has won accolades at several festivals, while his debut feature, “Our Kind of Love,” is currently in development with the BFI. Ehsas has also showcased his acting prowess in David Mackenzie’s action thriller “Fuze” and contributed as a second unit director on “The Crown.”
About the Production Companies
Khan & Kumar Media, co-founded by Vikas Kumar and Sharib Khan, is based in Mumbai and has an array of projects including “Songs of Forgotten Trees” and “The Ink-Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb.” The company is set to return to Venice’s Horizons competition with its latest work, “Lovers in the Blue Night.”
Prism Entertainment, established by Ganguly, Desai, and Kadakia, specializes in character-driven storytelling across various platforms. Their previous work includes the Oscar-nominated documentary “To Kill a Tiger,” as well as the upcoming feature “Patel,” produced in partnership with Camelback Productions. Both Khan & Kumar Media and Prism Entertainment have previously collaborated on the Oscar-qualifying short “Holy Curse.”
