Kabul, 15 August 2021. As American troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban seize control of the capital. Panic spreads through the city as thousands of Afghan civilians and foreign nationals rush toward the last remaining place of refuge still operating: the French Embassy.

Inside the compound, Commander Mohamed Bida (Roschdy Zem, Elyas, AF FFF25) and his men struggle to maintain order while the situation outside collapses. Cut off, outnumbered and running out of time, Bida makes a perilous decision. He enters negotiations with the Taliban to organise a final convoy to the airport, the only possible escape route.

At his side is Eva (Lyna Khoudri, November, AF FFF23), a young Franco-Afghan translator and humanitarian whose courage and resolve prove essential to the mission. Together, they walk a razor’s edge between diplomacy, authority, and moral responsibility, where every choice carries life-or-death consequences.

For 13 days and 13 nights, the embassy becomes both sanctuary and trap. Exhaustion sets in, fear mounts, and hope flickers among those waiting behind its walls, suspended between departure and abandonment.

Directed by Martin Bourboulon (The Three Musketeers, AF FFF24), 13 DAYS, 13 NIGHTS is inspired by the true story and the autobiographical book by Mohamed Bida. Presented out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the film delivers an intense and deeply human account of history unfolding in real time.

13 Days, 13 Nights

13 jours, 13 nuits