VENICE, Italy - An unusual cross-border co-production, an urgent frontline premise, and surging distributor interest have converged at the Venice Film Festival to turn Kurdish director Halkawt Mustafa's No Paradise if Killed by a Woman into one of Venice's most hotly pursued market titles.
Ahead of its official red carpet bow, the tickets for screening of the film have completely sold out, underscoring heavy demand from international buyers, festival programmers, and press. The heightened profile arrives as the project gears up for a global campaign, having recently been selected as the official submission for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
The commercial rhythm of the Venice market typically favors established European auteurs and American prestige titles. Yet Mustafa's feature—which explores the harrowing dynamics of battle through an uncompromising narrative lens—has broken through the Lido's crowded schedule to lock out seat allocations across the board.
"Very happy the tickets at the Venice festival sold out," Mustafa told Rudaw on the festival perimeter. "Distributors, journalists are telling me that the film is one of the biggest titles in Venice this year."
The title's festival visibility received an early boost after it secured an unequivocal endorsement during the domestic selection process, winning the country's official submission slot on a unanimous ballot.
"The unanimous vote in Iraq to select it to represent Iraq for the Oscars, helped to give more publicity," Mustafa said.
However, translating festival heat into a sustained awards campaign in North America represents a steep financial and logistical hurdle. Independent productions from the region often struggle to match the multimillion-dollar marketing machinery of traditional studios, making broad institutional backing vital as the winter circuit approaches.
Mustafa called on political and cultural institutions to ensure the film has the necessary infrastructure to compete on the global stage.
"Starting October 1st, there will be a big plan for the Oscars," Mustafa said. "I urge both Kurdistan Region and Iraqi Government to work to enhance the film's position at the Oscars."
The production's international architecture is reflected in its ensemble. Renowned Norwegian actor Thorbjorn Harr, widely recognized for his work in Scandinavian drama and international television, took on a key role in the project.
Speaking to Rudaw on the Lido, Harr said the script's fusion of kinetic action and psychological weight set it apart from standard military genre cinema.
"As a Norwegian, I'm very proud to be part of this Kurdish film," Harr said. "What's the most interesting about this film is that it's an action film but with deep meaning."
Harr noted that any initial hesitation about entering such a politically sensitive and intense creative landscape dissipated once he sat down with the director.
"After talking with Halkawt to understand the film, then it was an easy decision to be part of the film," Harr said. "Its100 percent comes from the heart. Halkawt's big soul and big heart gave the film energy."
While sales representatives negotiate rights across major international territories, Harr maintained that cultural exposure remains the production's true benchmark, even as the prospect of awards season looms large.
"The most important thing is for the film to be seen," Harr said. "It's already a big victory for the film to be in Venice and the oscars representation is also another big win."
A packed auditorium on the Lido gives the film an enviable launching pad, but audiences back home will not have to wait long to see the buzz translate to the big screen. Following its European festival run, No Paradise if Killed by a Woman is scheduled to make its Kurdistan premiere on September 20, rolling out in cinemas across Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani.
