Frontrunner: The Afghan Woman Who Surprised the World is the heroic story of the first woman to run for President of Afghanistan. Frontrunner introduces us to Dr. Massouda Jalal, a mother of three children, whose campaign inspired thousands of women across the country to participate in the democratic processes.

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As an advocate during the Taliban regime, Dr. Massouda Jalal risked her life on a daily basis. Now, she boldly runs for president—the only woman in a field of 17 candidates. Amidst death threats and bomb attacks, we follow Massouda as she doggedly campaigns from the back of a taxi, in mosques, in homes, in busy markets and in the streets. We accompany her as she travels to radio stations (trying to convince skeptical callers that a woman can indeed run a country), watch as she films a political ad, and eavesdrop on her strategy sessions. She receives support from AWAZ Media, a non-profit organization that has been enlisted by the UN to provide resources—strategy, equipment, know-how—to all the candidates.

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In Frontrunner, Jalal emerges as a committed, confident woman. Although she ultimately lost the election to Hamid Karzai, her courageous campaign opened the door for over 550 women to run for Parliament just a few months later.