The Fifth Sulaymaniyah International Film Festival opened with the theme “Kurdish Culture and Mother Tongue,” highlighting cinema as a bridge between Kurdish identity and global storytelling. The week-long festival brings together filmmakers worldwide, emphasizing the role of cinema in preserving Kurdish language and culture while connecting with international audiences.
German director Betty Lerche, a festival juror from Berlin, praised the festival for elevating Kurdish cinema. She said, “Every Kurdish movie is part of a mosaic from cultural and historical memory.” Lerche added that events like this create a future for the Kurdish nation and its people.
At the opening ceremony, Lerche wore a golden Greater Kurdistan necklace, symbolizing Kurdish-majority regions across Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria. She received it from a Kurdish neighbor in Berlin, a former Peshmerga fighter. “The Kurdish language and culture are very deep in my heart,” she said.
Festival director Fuad Jalal emphasized the link between cinema, identity, and language. “This year’s festival highlights Kurdish youth voices and preserves national heritage,” he said.
The festival screens 150 films from 30 countries at Sulaymaniyah University’s Congress Hall and City Cinema. About 250 local and international guests attended, enjoying live music and a ceramic art exhibition.
The event includes domestic and international competitions with 19 awards for outstanding filmmakers. Honorary awards went to Turkish scholar Ismail Besikci, Mam Pola, actress Zhyan Ibrahim Khayat, and artist Bijan Kamkar.
Kurdish filmmaker Zana Aziz encouraged investment in Kurdish cinema. He highlighted the growing quality of productions despite limited budgets, noting personal sacrifices to fund films.