Inside Long Night: Director Lynzy Billing Reveals The Untold Stories Of Afghanistan’s Medical Warriors

“I want people to understand the unimaginable suffering Afghans have endured, and their unwavering strength in caring for those in society who need it most. Beyond that, I want people to see that Afghanistan should not be forgotten.” Award-winning journalist Lynzy Billing is speaking about Long Night, a powerful new documentary she has created in collaboration with international aid charity EMERGENCY. The film shines a light on the extraordinary medical teams currently risking everything to provide life-saving care to Afghan citizens.  

Shot over two weeks in Kabul, Helmand and Panjshir provinces, the documentary – which opens in cinemas in London and the USA from the beginning of April – offers a raw, intimate look at the doctors and staff supported by EMERGENCY, capturing their personal stories as they perform countless surgeries and tend to their duties. The impact is undeniable. “Many of these doctors have treated their own injured family members and colleagues, some of whom didn’t make it,” says Lynzy.

This reality is set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s deepening crisis. While there has been a relative reduction in violent conflict under the Taliban’s current oppressive reign, the country remains ravaged by the ongoing threat from the Islamic State, whose ongoing bombing campaigns indiscriminately target and kill innocent civilians. Afghanistan’s suffering is further compounded by economic collapse, caused by years of war and political instability leading to deteriorating infrastructure; environmental catastrophes, including droughts and floods; and the withdrawal of international aid due to the Taliban’s rule. The country is also reeling from increasing child malnutrition, a looming polio outbreak and a deadly measles epidemic, all while the Taliban plans to restrict women from training as midwives and nurses. With 48% of Afghans living in poverty and the UN estimating more than half of the population is facing food insecurity as citizens struggle to afford basic groceries, medicine and transportation to reach health services, families are pushed to the brink – some even resorting to selling their children to survive. It is under these appalling circumstances that EMERGENCY’s healthcare teams persist, providing vital care in one of the world’s most perilous environments.

Founded by the late Italian surgeon and human rights activist Gino Strada in 1994, EMERGENCY has been working in Afghanistan since 1999, operating surgical hospitals and healthcare centres and providing free medical treatment to Afghan citizens affected by the numerous disasters faced by the country. Lynzy’s Long Night documentary focuses specifically on the heroism of these healthcare workers. “I wanted this film to be a sort of tribute to these doctors and their enduring care of the Afghan people,” she says. “They’ve dealt with the aftermath of countless mass casualty incidents, sometimes three or more suicide bombs in a single day. They regularly work for more than 24 hours at a time doing incredibly complicated back-to-back surgeries. Sometimes, they’ll complete five or six procedures on a single patient. The war surgeons at these hospitals have more than two decades of experience, and have seen every type of trauma case under the sun.”  

In the film, one surgeon says he thinks he has tended to between 15-20,000 people over that two-decade period. “The saddest thing is when you hear a phone ringing in a dead man’s pocket,” says another, capturing the dark reality of their daily work. This haunting image speaks to the human toll of violence, not just on the victims but on those tasked with saving them. “To struggle with this kind of situation is not easy for the medical staff – the surgeons also have feelings,” he adds. Lynzy, reflecting on her time filming, notes “one thing was clear – every single person at the hospitals was touched by violence in some way.”

Born to Afghan and Pakistani parents, Lynzy was two years old when her mother and sister were killed in a military night raid on their home in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province in the 1990s. Her father was killed later in fighting. She was adopted by a British family and later pursued a career in journalism, determined to uncover the truth behind the tragedy. Now based in Madrid, Lynzy won three Emmy awards in 2024 for The Night Doctrine, her animated documentary that visually chronicles The Night Raids – her four-year investigation into her family’s deaths. Long Night marks the continuation of her journalistic journey. “Both EMERGENCY and I felt strongly that the documentary should focus on the voices of the doctors and patients themselves,” she says. “And the stories flowed in a very organic way. Some were tragic, others were of courage and strength.”

David Lloyd Webber, EMERGENCY’s International Communications and Development Manager, explains how the organisation teamed up with Lynzy on Long Night: “We’ve admired Lynzy’s work in Afghanistan for a long time and were drawn to her visual eye and storytelling approach, which aligns with our commitment to humanising those affected by conflict. Working with Lynzy offered an opportunity to show a side of Afghanistan that’s rarely seen in the media.” David’s vision is for the film to raise awareness about Afghanistan’s ongoing struggles and needs. “Ultimately, we hope the documentary inspires action,” he says. “Whether that’s support for organisations like EMERGENCY on the ground, advocacy for humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan or simply a more nuanced understanding of the country and its people.”

This urgency is shared by Lynzy. “The needs in the country are immense,” she says. “Over the past year, the Kabul, Helmand and Panjshir hospitals alone treated more than 760 stabbing injuries, 410 mine and shell injuries and 730 bullet wounds. I can’t imagine not continuing this work. We must not forget about Afghanistan and what these extraordinary Afghan doctors continue to do every day.”

Long Night premieres in the UK on 3 April at the Curzon Bloomsbury cinema in London, on 28 April at the QUAD Cinema in New York, on 30 April at Landmark’s Atlantic Plumbing Cinema in Washington DC and on 4 May at the Landmark Westwood cinema in Los Angeles. Follow EMERGENCY’s Instagram account for additional information and upcoming international screenings.