ALL FILMS HAVE ENGLISH SUBTITLES
DREAM’S GATE
Armed only with her camera, filmmaker Negin Ahmadi journeys into the war zone of Rojava Kurdistan, embedding herself with the YPJ – an all-female Kurdish militia unit.
Friday 12 May 2023, 20:15
Sunday 14 May 2023, 12:30
*AFTER SCREENING*
Q&A with director Negin Ahmadi and producer Elaheh Nobakht.
THE DECREE
Observing over three years the struggle of Doctor Yasemin and Teacher Engin attempting to get back their jobs after losing them due to the Decree Law.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 12:30
WAR IS OVER
A mother’s diary accompanies us on her journey to reconstruct a finally normal life, made of simple things. An account of the resilience of the human spirit, and its enduring hopes.
Sunday 14 May 2023, 13:00
HOLY BREAD
This is the story of the everyday life of people who trade their lives for earning bread with a holy death.
This screening will include the short film HACER
Saturday 13 May 2023, 12:00
*AFTER SCREENING*
Q&A with producer Elaheh Nobakht.
FOR JUSTICE
The story of a mother who started a protest sitting in front of the justice court for more than a year, waiting for justice for her two sons and husband who lost their lives during the attack.
This screening will include the short film AJOTIN
Saturday 13 May 2023, 14:00
HÊZA
From captive to commander: Follow the remarkable journey of Hêza, a Kurdish Yazidi woman who rose from the horrors of ISIS enslavement to lead a band of fighters into battle against the world’s most dangerous terrorist organisation, in this powerful documentary about resilience, hope, and courage.
This screening will include the short film THE MOUNTAINS, A FEMININE NARRATIVE
Sunday 14 May 2023, 18:00
*AFTER SCREENING*
Q&A with Wahhab Hassoo en journalist Fréderike Geerdink.
TRANSIENT HAPPINESS
After years of marriage, a woman longs for the affection of her husband, who remains unaware of the distance growing between them. As she yearns for the intimacy they once shared, she must navigate their cultural norms and societal expectations to express her desire for a deeper connection.
This screening will include the short film SEVEN SYMPHONIES OF THE ZAGROS
Saturday 13 May 2023, 18:30
LETTERS FROM SHENGAL
Amidst the horrors of the Islamic State’s invasion of Shengal, five brave partisans from different countries come together to fight against the oppressors and liberate the Ezidi people from slavery and genocide in this inspiring tale of courage and hope.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 16:15
BEFORE THE NIGHT
Depicting the ordinary life of three characters living under a state of emergency – a painter, her mother who models for her, and her father who tries to reimagine their war-stricken city through old photographs.
This screening will include the short film THE ADDRESS
Saturday 13 May 2023, 14:15
THE RAIN BRIDE
This film interweaves traditional storytelling, music, and dance to connect the past and present, highlighting the recurring history of war in Kurdistan and the emerging social resistance against it.
Sunday 14 May 2023, 17:30
SINJAR
Three women whose lives are shattered by ISIS travel intertwined journeys on two continents to find their shared destiny in fighting back.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 18:15
IMAD’S CHILDHOOD
A poignant tale of resilience and healing, as a young boy struggles to recover from the trauma of captivity under ISIS, aided by his mother, grandmother, and a compassionate therapist in a displaced persons’ camp in Kurdistan.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 20:30
Sunday 14 May 2023, 17:45
Introduction by director Zahavi Sanjavi. After screening Q&A with Zahavi Sanjavi.
LANDLESS
A musician couple on the border faces a perilous journey to flee from the tyranny of ISIS to reach the safety of Europe, all while navigating the challenges of pregnancy and forced emigration in this heart-wrenching tale of survival and hope.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 20:30
*AFTER SCREENING*
Q&A with producer Elaheh Nobakht.
SONNE
In a moment of ordinary madness, three girlfriends decide to shoot a burqa music video.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 20:45
THE BOY WHO STOPPED TALKING
Memo is a Kurdish boy who lives in Eastern Turkey with his mother and sister. His father works in a Dutch port city, and when war threatens in Memo’s village, his father decides to bring them to the Netherlands. Much to the dismay of Memo, who protests the forced move by not talking anymore. Yet he befriends bookworm Jeroen, in his own way also an outsider and the only one who accepts that Memo doesn’t talk. One day Memo sees how Kemal, a Kurdish friend, is beaten up and kills one of his attackers in self-defense.
Sunday 14 May 2023, 12:15
*AFTER SCREENING*
Q&A with actor Erçan Orhan (who plays Memo).
KÖY
A poignant portrayal of the journey of three Kurdish women, from different generations and backgrounds, as they navigate their longing for a sense of belonging, home, and freedom while living in Berlin, weaving together their personal stories of struggle and identity.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 14:30
LIFE IN ARCHIVE
Chemical warfare veteran takes on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth behind a missing girl’s disappearance, unravelling the hidden secrets of the Iran-Iraq war.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 12:15
TRANSLATING ULYSSES
Kawa Nemir’s relentless pursuit to preserve the Kurdish language leads him on a journey of exile and obsession, culminating in his quest to translate James Joyce’s Ulysses, all while facing political persecution and language bans in this inspiring tale of cultural resilience and defiance.
Sunday 14 May 2023, 15:00
*AFTER SCREENING*
Q&A with writer Kawa Nemir.
KOBANE
Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, a female Kurdish fighter leads her fellow fighters in the resistance to defend their city “Kobane” from the deadly threat of ISIS. A real story of war, sacrifice, love, and hope that kept the whole world on tenterhooks.
Sunday 14 May 2023, 14:15
ELIF ANA
The life story of the Anatolian Saint Mother Elif, who’s known for being philanthropic and wise, who has fundamentally interiorised values such as love, peace, equality, sharing, tolerance, and compassion and shares these with all life around her.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 15:30
Introduction by Reber Dosky and Q&A with director Kazim Öz after screening.
Short 1
Fingerprint, A Tribune Story, War and Color, 3 Roj, The Last Meeting Sound, Sounds of Love
On Saturday 13 May you can see 6 short films in a row with Shorts I.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 16:30
*AFTER SCREENING*
Q&A with director Pari Barzanji.
Short 2
Mind Clemency, A Ezidi Tale, Red Room, Laboratory No. 2, Fifth Narcissus
On Saturday 13 May you can see 5 short films in a row with Shorts II.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 18:00
*AFTER SCREENING*
Q&A with director Warman Saeed.
Short 3
A Picture For Calmness, On the Roads of Freedom, The Witching Hour, Celebration, Birds Fly Back
On Sunday 14 May you can see 5 short films in a row with Shorts III.
Sunday 14 May 2023, 15:15
IMAD’S CHILDHOOD
A poignant tale of resilience and healing, as a young boy struggles to recover from the trauma of captivity under ISIS, aided by his mother, grandmother, and a compassionate therapist in a displaced persons’ camp in Kurdistan.
Saturday 13 May 2023, 20:30
Sunday 14 May 2023, 17:45
DREAM’S GATE
Armed only with her camera, filmmaker Negin Ahmadi journeys into the war zone of Rojava Kurdistan, embedding herself with the YPJ – an all-female Kurdish militia unit.
Friday 12 May 2023, 20:15
Sunday 14 May 2023, 12:30