According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO has picked up the television broadcast rights to Havana Marking’s documentary Afghan Star. The film follows an American Idol-style competition in Afghanistan, where the contestants struggle against old Taliban law, and in some cases risk their lives, in order to perform. What’s more, strange as it sounds, the voting process actually helps to introduce democracy to much of the population.

Afghan Star won the Audience Award for World Documentary at Sundance earlier this year, while Havana Marking was awarded Best Director for a Documentary. It’s currently playing in select theatres, but will air on HBO in early 2010. Check out the trailer for Afghan Star below.