Afghan Teen Headed to the Oscars Hopes to Meet Sylvester Stallone

When 14-year-old Fawad Mohammadi boards the first of several planes in Kabul on his way to LA for the Academy Awards, it will mark the first time he has flown on a commercial airliner. Once he lands in Hollywood, he’s hoping for two prizes: the Oscar for Best Live Action Short and an encounter with Sylvester Stallone.

Mohammadi is set to represent Buzkashi Boys. Per a Canadian Press write-up, he and same-age co-star Jawanmard Paiz will be escorted through the proceedings by their Afghan-Canadian director Ariel Nasr and filmmaking partner Sam French:

The trip will cap off an unbelievable journey for Mohammadi in particular, who was selling maps as a street vendor in Kabul to help feed his family when he was cast for the short film…

“He had a kind of unbreakable spirit, he had a real sense of joy, especially when he was performing,” says Nasr, who is based in...

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