An eight-day film festival was kicked off in Kabul on Saturday where Afghan movies from the 1980s, early 1990s, and pictures from the past 18 years will be displayed to viewers in different cinema halls in the city.

The opening ceremony was attended by artists, activists and government officials.

At least four million Afghanis have been allocated for the festival.

“I am happy to see that my first dream comes true,” the Afghan Film Chairwoman Sahraa Karimi said at a ceremony at Kabul University on Saturday. “I loved to organizing festivals, going out to the cinemas and sell tickets... I am sure that a large number of people will attend the festival in the coming eight days.”

She said that 100 films will be displayed during the festival.

The festival was warmly welcomed by members of the Afghan film industry and the people.

“This festival is good hope for all artists and filmmakers,” an Afghan filmmaker and actor Aziz Dildar said, adding that this is the first time that such a festival is held in the country.

“This festival is really about honoring the cultural values of Afghanistan. This is promising,” said Roya Musawi, an activist.