As reported by AFP, 38-year-old Karimi who has won several international awards, told the media: "In just two weeks, the most brilliant elements have left the country, at least those who were able. Imagine a country without artists.”

Summing up vividly about how rapidly things changed with the Taliban assuming power she said the Afghan film industry had entirely stopped "in the space of a few hours" after last month's sudden takeover by the Taliban following the exit of US troops.

She added: "The archives are now under the control of the Taliban. The work of directors vanished in a few hours. Some were able to leave with their computers, others with nothing at all."

Also read: Fear, anguish and a sense of betrayal looms over artists of Afghanistan

Mani, who is a documentary filmmaker, well known for her work A Thousand Girls Like Me on victims of incest said: "This collapse meant we lost everything." She cited the example of Kabul’s only mixed music school. "The Taliban are now occupying the building. They have destroyed the students' instruments and the students are in hiding.”

Describing her fellow exiles as "ambassadors of Afghan identity", Mani warned the world against trusting the Taliban. "Not only are they more cruel, they are wiser due to their use of technology."

Seeking help Mani said: "We can only be saved by the international community. Help us! We need hope. Please be our voices and speak about our situation.”

Also read: Cannes Award winner Shahrbanoo Sadat says Afghanistan situation has changed her cinema forever!

Karimi and Mani were joined at Venice by members of the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR), which was formed at last year's festival to help artists from countries in turmoil such as Myanmar.