Duhok film festival kicks off Saturday, focusing on women in cinema
DUHOK, Kurdistan Region – The Duhok International Film Festival kicks off on Saturday with a screening of the film Zagros.
The film tells the story of a Kurdish shepherd named Zagros who, despite his family’s accusation that his wife has had an affair, follows her and their daughter to Belgium.
Director Sahim Omar Kalifa, 38, was born in Zakho and is now based in Belgium. Two of his short films have been shortlisted for Oscars.
The sixth edition of the festival is themed “The Female Lens,” highlighting women in cinema, explained Lise Goll, coordinator for the international program.
There will be 68 films screened with connections to 34 production countries in over 40 languages. There will also be 37 Kurdish films featured.
Each year, DIFF selects one country to highlight. This year it has chosen Armenia and the country’s deputy minister of culture will be attending.
"I'm very excited and it's amazing to see how this event had developed from nothing," said Goll.
The festival will close with an award ceremony on October 27.
Rudaw is media sponsor.
The film tells the story of a Kurdish shepherd named Zagros who, despite his family’s accusation that his wife has had an affair, follows her and their daughter to Belgium.
Director Sahim Omar Kalifa, 38, was born in Zakho and is now based in Belgium. Two of his short films have been shortlisted for Oscars.
The sixth edition of the festival is themed “The Female Lens,” highlighting women in cinema, explained Lise Goll, coordinator for the international program.
There will be 68 films screened with connections to 34 production countries in over 40 languages. There will also be 37 Kurdish films featured.
Each year, DIFF selects one country to highlight. This year it has chosen Armenia and the country’s deputy minister of culture will be attending.
"I'm very excited and it's amazing to see how this event had developed from nothing," said Goll.
The festival will close with an award ceremony on October 27.
Rudaw is media sponsor.