ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish family comedy, Nane's House - Grandma's House in Kurdish - is set to premiere simultaneously in cinemas across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq next week, producers told Rudaw on Saturday, in a move aimed at expanding the audience for Kurdish-language cinema beyond the Region.
“What we have thought about in this production is family, that peaceful place that exists in our grandparents' homes,” Producer Bahoz Nasraddin said.
The film focuses on “family as a source of comfort and security amid economic and political pressures,” he added, and aims to “highlight the affection and respect within families and the memories people carry of their grandparents, aunts and uncles.”
Nane's House is the seventh artwork by Metronome Production, with Rudaw as its media sponsor.
The production cost stood at $200,000, with 25 percent of the budget spent on actor preparation, Nasraddin explained, noting that that figure was built over “10 years of work” to develop the team and reduce production costs.
Production was delayed by the Iran war after four to five months of work on the story and script. However, filming resumed later and took about two and a half months to complete.
Aland Akram, the film's marketing manager, told Rudaw their strategy was designed to help establish a sustainable economic model for Kurdish cinema.
“Marketing is a sensitive stage for us because we want Kurdish cinema marketing to become an important driver of Kurdistan's economy,” Akram said.
Moreover, Nasraddin described working across an age gap of about 60 to 70 years as the most difficult part of the production, noting however that “support from actors Sirwan Jamal and Kharman Hirani and a dedicated children's coach helped the team overcome the challenge.”
The screenplay was written by Sawan Khalid and reviewed by directors Shwan Karim and Mohammed Mustafa, with psychologist Dr. Mohammed Khani consulted to ensure it was appropriate for children and families.
Nasraddin said the film aims to convey its message through entertainment rather than direct advice.
“We tell a Kurdish story in a Kurdish film, using international techniques and simple acting, taking viewers back to their own memories,” he said.
The film will hold a red-carpet premiere at City Cinema in the Kurdistan Region’s eastern Sulaimani province on Wednesday, followed by general screenings across cities in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq from Thursday. Arabic subtitles have also been made available for Arab audiences.
