The New York Kurdish Film Festival is back for its seventh edition, promising a captivating journey into the heart of Kurdish culture. The week-long event will run from 20-26 October and feature an array of cinematic treasures, cultural performances and discussions that showcase the rich tapestry of Kurdish identity.
The festival, which will take place at the historic Village East by Angelika theatre at 181-189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, will screen 17 films from all four parts of the Kurdish homeland and the Kurdish diaspora. The selection includes short and feature-length films, documentaries and fiction, all of which reflect the essence of Kurdish identity and the struggles that have shaped it. Participants will have the unique opportunity to interact with some of the directors during personal Q&A sessions.
The festival features four films directed by women, each offering a unique and compelling perspective on Kurdish culture and identity.
– Mozhgan Kavousi (Iran), the director of Hope, is a longtime activist for linguistic, ethnic, and women’s rights. Conversant in arts and literature, she has recently turned to filmmaking. Hope reflects her concern with the preservation of a Kurdish dialect.
– Sevinaz Evdike (North and East Syria), the director of The Wedding Parade, served as co-director of the Rojava Film Commune and now coordinates the Kezi women film collective and co-founded the Rojava Film Festival. The Wedding Parade reflects her sense of displacement since the 2019 occupation of her home city. It is the festival’s closing night film.
– Nevine Gerits (Brussels, Belgium), director of The Pasha, My Mother, and I, was born to a Kurdish mother and a Belgian father. For 15 years she worked in television as a researcher, editor, reporter, and director. Her documentary about her mother and her Kurdish heritage, The Pasha is the opening night film.
– Manal Masri (Sweden), director of Touching Freedom, has worked for 17 years as a producer and director in theatre, film, and radio drama. She heads the Swedish radio drama department in Malmö and has worked as director of Teater Foratt, Malmö.
One of the festival’s highlights this year is the celebration of Kurdish music and dance. Audiences can revel in traditional Kurdish music with guest singers such as Osman Mirwais from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Kurdish pop singer Navid Zardi from Iran.
The festival will also offer a children’s program, allowing young attendees to connect with their Kurdish heritage. Additionally, there will be a workshop that delves into the ethics of documentary filmmaking and a book signing event featuring a prolific Kurdish American author who has just published a new novel.
