A Kurdish filmmaker has released the trailer for a new film about a female Peshmerga fighter. The movie follows her dangerous mission to rescue her younger sister from ISIS-controlled Mosul.
Director Halkawt Mustafa said the film aims to highlight Kurdish women’s sacrifices during the war. He also wants to bring greater international attention to the experiences of female Peshmerga fighters.
Titled You Will Not See Paradise If You Kill a Woman, the film takes place during ISIS’s 2014 territorial expansion. The story centers on a female sniper who secretly enters Mosul with assistance from Iraqi forces.
The production involved more than 1,000 international crew members, according to Mustafa. Norwegian company Hene Films, Kurdistan Region-based LaMedia, and Swedish company Chimney Pot jointly produced the project.
The production process lasted approximately nine years, reflecting the scale and complexity of the international project. Meanwhile, the film combines wartime drama with Kurdish cultural and historical themes.
ISIS captured large parts of Iraq in 2014 and established Mosul as its main stronghold. Peshmerga forces subsequently played a major role in defending the Kurdistan Region and its surrounding areas.
Mustafa said Kurdish women also made significant sacrifices during the conflict. Therefore, he chose a female Peshmerga as the central character to represent those experiences.
The filmmaker said the movie seeks to present the Peshmerga’s history through an artistic and poetic approach. Additionally, he hopes international audiences will gain a broader understanding of Kurdish history.
The film will receive its international premiere at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The festival will take place in Venice, Italy, from September 2 to 12, 2026.
The premiere could provide Kurdish cinema with an important international platform. Furthermore, it could introduce global audiences to stories about Kurdish women and the conflict against ISIS.
The movie is expected to enter theaters toward the end of 2026. Mustafa said several international distributors have already expressed interest in acquiring screening rights.
Mustafa previously gained international recognition through his 2016 feature film Clash. The film screened in more than 56 countries and received several international awards.
His latest project could therefore expand his international profile while strengthening Kurdish cinema’s presence. More importantly, the film places women’s wartime experiences at the center of its narrative.