Early in the morning on Tuesday 13th of September, 2011 a Taliban squad overtook a building under construction in the Green Zone in the heart of Kabul, Afghanistan. From there, insurgents armed with RPG grenade launchers and machine guns opened fire on the U.S. Embassy.
The fighting raged throughout the afternoon and into the next day, when special troops from mostly Afghan forces put an end to the 20-hour siege.
The assault, occurring just days after the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, left seventeen civilians and six NATO soldiers injured and four police officers, four civilians, three coalition soldiers and all eleven insurgent attackers dead.
It was one of the longest lasting and boldest Taliban offensives since the beginning of the occupation by U.S. forces in the country.
In the face of the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2014, this alarming wake up call demonstrates Taliban resolve to win back power in Afghanistan.
Rafael Fabrés (b.1982. Madrid.) is a photographer and filmmaker specializing in documentary storytelling.
He holds a BA in Media Communication (UEM) and a Master’s Degree in Cinematography (ESCAC).
Rafael´s work explores the connections between identity, displacement and belonging in his projects.
After having lived in Central and Latin America for more than a decade working as a photojournalist he published his first monographic titled Cafuné in 2020.
Rafael is currently working between City of Mexico and Madrid.
Awards Awards
2022- Tiradentes Rotterdam Photo Festival. Finalist
2021- Lucie Photobook Prize. Finalist
2020- Prix de la Photographie Paris Book/Documentary Professional Silver Award Winner
2018- Mexico International Film Festival Music Video Category Winner.
2017- European Cinematography Awards Best Music Video Category Winner.
2016- European Journalism Centre (EJC) Grant Winner.
2013- POYi Award of Excellence News Story Category.
2013- Photocrati Fund Honorable Mention.
2013- Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation Grant Finalist.
2013- Emphasis Crowdfunding Campaign Winner.
2012- EDDIE ADAMS Workshop XXV Selected.
2012- PX3 Bronze Award Press-War Category.
2012- International Photography Awards Honorable Mention.
2012- Prix ANI (Association Nationale des Iconographes) Finalist.
Exhibitions
2021- (solo) Centro Estudios Hispano Brasileño Universidad Salamanca - Salamanca, Spain
2020- (group) Visa pour l'image Festival (screening) - Perpignan, France
2019- (group) "DKV Creadores de Conciencia" - Madrid, Valencia, Zaragoza & Gijon, Spain
2018- (group) "DKV Creadores de Conciencia" - Barcelona, Spain
2017- (group) "Upfront Colective" - CDMX, Mexico
2016- (solo) Academia de España - Rome, Italy
2016- (group) "Upfront Colective" - Madrid, Spain
2015- (solo) EFTI - Madrid, Spain
2014- (solo) DOCfield14 - Barcelona, Spain
2014- (solo) Photon Festival - Valencia, Spain
2013- (group) Paraty Em Foco (screening) - Paraty, Brazil
2013- (solo) Visa pour l'image Festival XXV- Perpignan, France
2013- (group) Les Rencontres d'Arles - Arles, France
2012- (group) Bronx Documentary Center (screening)- New York, USA
