Festival favorite Afghan Star will be coming to a small screen in early 2010! HBO Documentary Films has acquired U.S. Television rights to the two-time 2009 Sundance award-winning film directed by Havana Marking. 

The film follows the stories of four young finalists in Tolo TV's "Afghan Star" contest, a wildly popular "American Idol"-style series in Afghanistan. What could be just a trifle about a pop culture phenomenon goes deeper as Marking provides a window into the country’s tenuous, ongoing struggle for modernity.

Of course, you don't have to wait until 2010 to see the film, which is currently in theatrical release via Zeitgeist Films. For playdates, click here. 

Check out our article on the doc, "Afghanistan's Got Talent: Afghan Star Observes Pop Culture in a War-torn Nation" right here.

Jon Stewart's interview with producer Saad Mohseni.