Film lovers and supporters of female directors will be excited about this one: New Zealand has chosen “A Flickering Truth” as their contender for the Academy Awards in the foreign-language category, Variety reports. The documentary was produced and directed by Pietra Brettkelly (“Maori Boy Genius”) and follows the preservation of film archives in Afghanistan.

“The film,” Variety’s synopsis reads, “follows three men who have dedicated decades to protecting Afghan film culture and national history from the time of King Amanullah Khan in the 1920s, the invasion of the Russians, and the days when women wore miniskirts. Their challenges include 100 years of war, hiding the collection from the Taliban who want to destroy the archive, and Kabul’s extreme weather.”

“Pietra Brettkelly is an uncompromising and courageous filmmaker with a singular cinematic voice and vision,” said New Zealand Film Commission CEO Dave Gibson of the choice.

The film had a qualifying theatrical beginning on August 25 in New Zealand, and played at the 2015 Venice Film Festival.

In an interview with Women and Hollywood from that Venice fest, Brettkelly said that, actually, “filming in a conflict zone, in Afghanistan, and being a female filmmaker was the easy part.”

The advice she offered to other female directors was, “Don’t try and mimic men — how they operate, how they do business, how they direct, write, or are creative. They are not perfect. Women do it all differently, and that should be celebrated. We believe in collaboration, we are empathetic and sympathetic and we do tend to connect to stories and people on a different level. And this should all be celebrated. And don’t ever be afraid of your tears — I cry often and don’t mind then shouting through my tears. Surely the most wonderful work is made by those who are passionate and emotional. So here I am.”