At the closing ceremony of the National Lajward Film Festival, 35 golden azure statues were awarded to the artists in five categories.  

Among the 200 films submitted to the festival by the Afghan and foreign filmmakers, 55 movies were selected to compete in the festival. 

Lajward National Film Festival is the first-ever festival which to be organized by the Afghan Film Directorate of the Ministry of Information and Culture.  

The ceremony was held at the Russian Cultural Center in Kabul. 

“I am very happy to see that a national film festival is being organized by a national institution,” said Aqela Kamal Rezayee, a filmmaker.  

Tawfiq Laiq and Leena Alam were declared the best actors of the festival for their film "An Apple from Paradise."  

"Habiba," another film, was declared the best short film of the festival. 

"Murgh-e-Kotah," a short film on the life of the famous Afghan singer Zahir Huwaida, also won an award.  

Zubair Farhang was declared the best screenwriter of the festival.  

“The gold azure statue goes to Mr. Tawfiq Laiq for the best male actor” said Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat, while announcing the award.  

“I was working in this field for the last 11 years, but this is the first statue that I received in my country,” said Farzana Nawabi, winner of best actress.  

A large part of the cost of the festival was paid by private companies and the Ministry of Information and Culture allocated only 350,000 Afs.

The festival was held from November 21 to November 30. 

Afghan Film was established half a century ago, but this is the first time that the entity is released a poster for a festival. 

Selected movies for the festival went on screen in 15 places in Kabul. 

The statue of this festival is decorated with azure and gold.