THE FIFTH KURDISH FILM FESTIVAL

Kurdish Globe
sp?id=379547813C5A69608B5C6520A8E108FF
May 14 2008
Iraq

With 45 short, documentary, and feature films, and 30 directors from
all parts of Kurdistan, the Fifth Kurdish FilmFestival will be held
in Berlin from May 24 to June 1.

Participating films show the life, culture, and misfortunes of Kurds
in Turkey, Syria, and Iran.

The festival first ran in 2002 and has since become the world’s
largest Kurdish film festival as well as an important meeting place
for Kurdish filmmakers.

Several workshops built around the themes explored in some of the
films will take place, as well as discussions on the past, present,
and future of Kurdish film.

Prominent and creative Kurdish directors such as Bahman Ghobadi,
Hiner Saleem, Rahim Zabihi, Yuksel Yawz, Hisham Zaman, and others
will attend.

Berlin sponsors the festival, held at the Central Cinema Art Hall
(Filmkunsthaus Babylon Mitte), and two films will kick it off: the
Kurdish-Norwegian Vinterland by Hisham Zaman, and White Mountain by
Taha Karimi.

Others include On the Way in the EU, about the Kurdish issue in
Turkey and its affects on this country and its possible entry into
the EU, and Close-up Kurdistan by Yuksel Yawz, a documentary about the
history of emigration of Kurds to Europe and conflicts between Kurds
and Turks. Kurds on the Map talks about the 15 years of the political
entity in Iraqi Kurdistan. Bahman Ghobadi’s Half Moon, Hiner Saleem’s
Dall, and Rahim Zabihi’s The Land of Legend will also be screened.

Children on Border by Burhan Dogan, and The Lark Farm by two Italian
brothers Vittorio and Paolo Taviani that reflects relations between
Turkish and Armenians with Kurdish actors are to be screened.

According to a press release by festival organizers, the goal is to
get Kurdish films to Kurds in Diaspora.

"This festival is a good omen for the birth of Kurdish Cinema," said
the general manager of the festival, Memet Aktash, to local Kurdish
media. "I hope that Erbil will announce the birth of the Kurdish
national cinema and embrace directors and film companies from all
four parts of Kurdistan."