Voices of Resistance and Heritage
Voices of Resistance and Heritage: Stories of Kurdish Women and Culture
Join us for a screening of two films that celebrate the courage and resilience of Kurdish women who fight for freedom and self-determination amid war and revolution. The evening will shine a light on the rich cultural heritage of the Kurdish people, including the ancient tradition of dengbêj and the enduring spirit of the Yezidi community.
The two films:
Ezda, directed by Halime Akturk
Canada, 2023, 14 min. | English and Kurdish with English subtitles | documentary
A Yezidi survivor of ISIS’s genocide recounts her experiences during nearly three years of captivity and strives to come to terms with her trauma while forging a new path for herself and her children in Canada.
Jinwar, directed by by Nadia Derwiş
Rojava (West Kurdistan), 2024, 41 mins. | Kurdish and Arabic with English subtitles | documentary
In 2017, a group of women set out to create an all-women village in North-East Syria (Rojava). They built it using traditional materials and techniques. Once completed, Jinwar welcomed women refugees from male violence. By participating in the common life, based on agriculture and handicrafts, women villagers forge new identities and build better lives for themselves. At the same time they create a new world.
Together, these two films weave a powerful narrative of resistance, leadership, and cultural preservation.
Screening online:
Date: March 14–23, 2025
RSVP: artearchive.org
Availability: Worldwide
Admission: free/ $5 suggested donation
Screening in person:
Date & time: Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 7-9:30pm
Place: Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, Flanboyan Theater, 107 Suffolk Street (1st floor), New York, NY
Admission: $10
The in-person screenings will be followed by a discussion with filmmaker Halime Akturk and curator Xeyal Qertal.
Tickets are available now:
Voices of Resistance and Heritage: Stories of Kurdish Women and Culture is curated by Xeyal Qertel and is co-presented by the New York Kurdish Cultural Center, ArteEast, and the Clemente Center. This program is part of the legacy program Unpacking the ArteArchive, which preserves and presents 20 years of film and video programming by ArteEast.
Please note:
Space is limited. You must register to confirm your seat(s). Only registered guests will be admitted.
Facilties:
This venue is temporarily not ADA-compliant. The closest restroom is a portable restroom located outside on Rivington Street. Alternatively, the audience can use the 4th-floor bathroom via the main entrance.
