Furthermore, Dr. Hikmat Baziani recently praised regional festivals. He directs the Baghdad International Film Festival. Specifically, he commended events in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Dohuk. He called them successful and deeply experienced.
Moreover, Dr. Baziani clarified Iraq’s film history. He stated cinema festivals are not new for Iraq. He highlighted several existing festivals. For instance, he mentioned the Nineveh Festival. Additionally, he noted the strong festivals in Kurdistan.
Consequently, the current festival aims to improve. It will learn from past editions. Organizers will use previous successes and failures. Therefore, this year’s event should be distinct. Over 460 films were submitted for consideration. Ultimately, 17 feature films were selected for competition.
However, Dr. Baziani also issued a request. He urged the government to support young filmmakers. He emphasized cinema is a state industry. Therefore, it deserves official backing. Withdrawing support would disappoint many aspiring artists.
The festival honors Mohamed Shukri Jamil. He was a renowned Iraqi director. The event runs until September 21. Importantly, many Arab stars are attending. Participants come from numerous countries. These include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt. Films will screen in various categories. These features include documentaries and animations.