Riz Ahmed Boards Elham Ehsas’ Short Film ‘Forgotten Spaceman’ About Afghanistan’s First Astronaut

EXCLUSIVE: Riz Ahmed has come on board Forgotten Spaceman, Elham Ehsas’ short film about Abdul Ahad Momand, Afghanistan’s first and only astronaut.

Ahmed is now an executive producer on the documentary film, which counts Ken Loach’s Sixteen Films among its producers. The short’s festival run has included Locarno, Toronto and the London’s LFF. It has just won Best Documentary at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival.

Ahmed previously won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2022 for The Long Goodbye, which he starred in, co-wrote and produced.

“Forgotten Spaceman begins with the extraordinary story of Afghanistan’s first astronaut, but Elham makes it deeply personal through his own family connection and experience of displacement,” Ahmed said. “It offers a perspective on Afghanistan beyond the headlines, and it’s been incredible to see the film resonate with audiences around the world. I’m proud to support Elham and the team as its journey continues.”

The film follows Momand’s 1988 trip to space, as part of a Soviet mission, and it captures his story and, in the process, that of Afghanistan during this era.

Ehsas’ previous short, Yellow, was BAFTA-nominated and shortlisted for the Academy Awards in 2024. He wrote and directed Forgotten Spaceman, which also tells the story of his own family, his father having been the first person to interview Momand when he returned to Earth.

“Having Riz come on board is a real honor,” the filmmaker said. “He’s spent his career championing stories that might slip through the cracks, elevating distinctive voices and histories the world might otherwise miss. For him to put his weight behind this piece of Afghan history means more than I can put into words.”

Ahmed joins an executive producer team that includes Jack Thomas-O’Brien of Ken Loach and Rebecca O’Brien’s Sixteen Films, Catherine Tschaepe, Sharib Khan and Vikas Kumar of Khan & Kumar Media and Shruti Ganguly, Priya Giri Desai and Megha Kadakia of Prism Entertainment.

The Oscar and BAFTA qualified film’s festival run is continuing with screenings at International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, among others.