Abstract

The small village of Porshniev in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province harbours an endemic heroin problem, much like many other isolated communities in this landlocked Central Asian nation. Narkomen explores the issues and impacts surrounding narcotic abuse in the region through the life stories of Mamadkhan and Mirzo, two addicts struggling to free themselves from the grip of heroin.

Producers: Malgorzata Skowronska has completed Masters at the Department of War Studies. Her academic interests focus on organised crime and drug trade in Central Asia. She has travelled extensively in the region and speaks Polish, Russian and English. She currently works in compliance and anti-money laundering.

Matt Traver is a Hong Kong-born British-American filmmaker. He has recently completed ‘Tales from the Steppe’, a collection of five films shot in Central Asia which have since screened at fourteen festivals throughout Europe and the US. More information at www.matthewtraver.com