The 8th rendition of the New York Kurdish Film Festival will celebrate Kurdish language and culture with the theme “Freedom of Expression in the Mother Tongue”. This year’s festival, which will include 34 films from different parts of Kurdistan and the Kurdish diaspora, will run from 12-19 October at the Village East by Angelika theatre, 181-189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003.
Organised by the New York Kurdish Cultural Center, the festival will showcase a diverse array of films that highlight the importance of preserving the Kurdish language as a means of cultural identity and self-expression. The event will also feature panel discussions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, focusing on how Kurdish language and cinema can be tools for resilience, resistance and creativity.
The opening reception will offer traditional Kurdish cuisine, including the iconic Kurdish Smugglers’ Tea, providing guests with a taste of Kurdish culture. In addition to film screenings, the festival will host community-driven events to encourage dialogue on the relationship between language and freedom of expression.
The New York Kurdish Cultural Center continues its year-round efforts to promote Kurdish heritage through various activities, including weekly Kurdish language classes for children and adults, and its monthly Book and Cinema Club, which discusses Kurdish literature and films. The centre also organises cultural events, such as the Kurdish Heritage Month Celebration in March.
