WINNER BEST FEATURE FICTION: ELAHA

Best Fiction Feature goes to “Elaha”. A heartfelt coming-of-age story about Elaha, a young Kurdish-German woman in a constant tug-of-war between family, and love. Amsterdam Koerdisch Film Festival is joyed to announce Milena Aboyan as this year’s recipient of Best Fiction Feature.

Born in 1992, Aboyan commenced a four-year acting programme in 2010 in Germany. After receiving her degree, she decided to instead focus on writing, an effort that catapulted her as assistant dramatic supervisor for ARD-series. “Elaha” is her final film by way from the Film academie Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany

WINNER BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY: ANGELS OF SINJAR

Best Documentary Feature goes to “Angels of Sinjar”. Set against the backdrop of Sinjar, Southern Kurdistan, Hanna Polak’s documentary pens the story of Hanifa, a young Yezidi woman. Having the miraculously escaped an ISIS attack, Hanifa manages to flee abduction, something her five younger sisters heartbreakingly did not. Amsterdam Koerdisch Film Festival is joyed to announce Hanna Polak as this year’s recipient of Best Documentary Feature.

Hanna Polak (born 1967) is a Polish director, cinematographer and producer. Her critically acclaimed documentary, “The Children of Leningradsky’’, landed her a Oscar-nomination. ‘’Angels of Sinjar’’, however, is uncharted territories of the director. Her ability to close-up on subjects, allowing for a visceral, poetic connection between the film and audience renders Polak a force to be reckoned with in film.

WINNER BEST SHORT FICTION: THINGS UNHEARD OF

Best Fiction Short goes to “Things Unheard of”. In this film, we chronicle 10-year old Şevîn’s plan to retrieve her stolen Kurdish satellite in order to put a smile on her grandmother’s face. Language barriers, cultural freedom and heartfelt stories of family relationships. Amsterdam Koerdisch Film Festival is joyed to announce Ramazan Kılıç as this year’s recipient of Best Fiction Short.

Ramazan Kılıç, born East of Turkey in 1993 studied Cinema-TV & literature at Istanbul Şehir University in Istanbul. His previous film “The School Bus” competed in many prestigious film festivals: Clermont-Ferrand, Leeds, PÖFF Shorts, Odense, Palm Springs, Indy Shorts, and Bogoshorts. He was also involved as a producer for The Moisture which will have its World Premiere at 79th Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti Short Film Competition.

WINNER BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY: STAR ON THE BORDER

Best Documentary Short goes to “Star on The Border”. In March 1993, Gendarmerie Unit Commander Hasan Atilla Uğur and soldiers organized a house in the “Dirbesiyê” area of Mardin-Kızıltepe, near the Syrian border. They removed star symbols from the house, claiming it represented the PKK. This act reflects a broader historical shift, from a peaceful past to conflict and migration due to geopolitical tensions and economic downturns in the region. Amsterdam Koerdisch Film Festival is joyed to announce Berîvan Saruhan as this year’s recipient of Best Documentary Short.

Born in 1994 in Mardin (Northern Kurdistan), Berîvan Saruhan graduated from Mardin Artuklu University, Department of Kurdish Language and Literature in 2017. Currently, Saruhan spends her time with various NGO-efforts: combating the gender-violence against woman at the Women’s Time Association in Istanbul.

WINNER AKFF ACADEMY 2024: TABAN JALALI

We congratulate Taban Jalali with the AKFF CEGERXWIN TALENT AWARD 2024 for her film plan called ‘Amoeba’.

The film is about Narmin who discovers at the age of 28 that she is circumcised, which makes her life collapse. Hesitantly, her search begins within her group of friends to find and accept herself.

Huge thanks to Stichting Adar for their generous support in empowering Talabi with 3000 euros to further develop her groundbreaking work. Stay tuned for more from this talented filmmaker!