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The opening event of the Kurdish Film Festival, hosted in Istanbul on Thursday, was the screening of ‘Kurds-Yazidis‘ (‘Kurdên Êzidî’), a 52-minute feature film released in 1933 and directed by the Armenian director Amasi Martirosyan.
The festival launch was attended by a large crowd, including the co-chairs of the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the representatives of ‘Saturday Mothers’ (a civilian initiative who have been demanding justice since 1995 for kidnapped individuals in Turkey), various NGOs, film directors, screen writers and actors/actresses.
The opening began with a moment of silence in commemoration of film crews who lost their lives in the fight for freedom and democracy, and was followed by the hosts introducing the festival line-up and a concert by Group Aryen.
Speaking to Gazete Duvar during the event, HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan indicated that the timing of the festival was of particular importance because of the current political climate in Turkey, and said:
“It is remarkable that this kind of a festival is able to be held in a period when the Kurds are subjected to so much oppression and assimilation.”
There will be screening of 27 films during the festival between 24-29 March.
25 March: Casime Celil, Brindarim, House without Roof, Çiroka Tribuneke, Will Wait, Çerx, Gitmek, Landless
26 March: 13 May, Rewşwn, Sar, Landless, Gitmek, Walnut Tree, Nani Piroz, Casime Celil, Sidik u Panter, House without Roof
27 March: Suçlular, Gola Cinan, Walnut Tree, Evin Di Ruye Qirkirine De, Şiwenpence, Alf Leila Wa Leila, Pathway, A Voice From Far Away, Sidik u Panter
A forum on Kurdish cinema will be held on 28 March.
29 March: Namo
