Explore each day’s lineup using the tabs below.
Opening Night — Saturday, September 20, 2025
Village East by Angelika · Theater 1
@ 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
6:00 pm –
6:45 pm
Reception
5 min
Listen to our National Anthem online, then stand with us in person as we sing it together.
6:45 pm –
6:50 pm
Opening Ceremony
10 min
NYKFF Co-Director, NYKCC President
6:50 pm –
7:00 pm
Opening Ceremony
20 min
Accompanied by Birayên Soso (Dahul û Zarne – popular Kurdish instruments)
7:10 pm –
7:30 pm
Music
90 min
Genre: Feature Documentary
A Yazidi girl searches for her family after surviving ISIS captivity.
Director: Hasan Oswald
Region: USA, Sinjar, Bashur (South) Kurdistan
7:50 pm –
9:20 pm
Screening
Hosts: Halime Akturk & Rez Gardi
9:20 pm –
10:00 pm
Live Session
Director: Sharmin Soltanian
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan
10:10 pm –
10:25 pm
Screening
Director: Raz Kamaran Ahmed
Region: Bashur (South) Kurdistan
10:25 pm –
10:35 pm
Screening
Directors: Mihyedîn Erselan, Mehmûd Çeqmaqî
Region: Rojava (West) Kurdistan
10:35 pm –
10:45 pm
Screening
5 min
Listen to our National Anthem online, then stand with us in person as we sing it together.
6:45 pm –
6:50 pm
20 min
Accompanied by Birayên Soso (Dahul û Zarne – popular Kurdish instruments)
7:10 pm –
7:30 pm
Feature Documentary •
90 min
A Yazidi girl searches for her family after surviving ISIS captivity.
7:50 pm –
9:20 pm
Short Fiction •
15 min
A widow hides her husband’s death to protect her home
10:10 pm –
10:25 pm
Animation •
9 min
A woman discovers a unique way to reconnect with her partner.
10:25 pm –
10:35 pm
Short Fiction •
10 min
A man knocks on a door that leads only to silence and ruin.
10:35 pm –
10:45 pm
Day 2 — Sunday, September 21, 2025
Village East by Angelika · Theater 2
@ 2:00 PM – 11:00 PM
1 hr 51 min
Genre: Feature Fiction
A love story unfolds during a snowstorm. When Adar disappears, Miase journeys through snow and heartbreak to find him in Dersim.
Director: Kazim Öz
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan
2:00 pm –
3:50 pm
Screening
Host: Janet Biehl
4:00 pm –
4:40 pm
Live Session
1 hr 26 min
Genre: Feature Documentary
A deaf boy’s journey from Iraq to the UK to find communication and belonging.
Director: Edward Lovelace
Region: UK
4:40 pm –
6:10 pm
Screening
Hosts: Ali Sengul & Janet Biehl
6:10 pm –
6:40 pm
Live Session
Hosts: Bahar Simsek & Mahsun Oti
6:40 pm –
8:00 pm
Panel Discussion
14 min
Genre: Student
A girl faces forced marriage in a town haunted by violence against women.
Director: Nilgoon Askari
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdsitan, USA
8:00 pm –
8:20 pm
Screening
Director: Yakup Tekintangaç
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan
8:40 pm –
9:00 pm
Screening
Director Rodî Osman
Region: Rojava (West) Kurdistan
9:00 pm –
9:05 pm
Screening
Director: Adnan Zandi
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan
9:05 pm –
9:10 pm
Screening
Director: Azad Azizyan
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan
9:10 pm –
9:32 pm
Screening
Hosts: Halime Akturk and Mahsun Oti
9:32 pm –
10:00 pm
Live Session
Feature Fiction •
1 hr 51 min
A love story unfolds during a snowstorm. When Adar disappears, Miase journeys through snow and heartbreak to find him in Dersim.
2:00 pm –
3:50 pm
Novel •
40 min
Book: The Lovers of Franz K. A Novel
4:00 pm –
4:40 pm
Feature Documentary •
1 hr 26 min
A deaf boy’s journey from Iraq to the UK to find communication and belonging.
4:40 pm –
6:10 pm
Student •
14 min
A girl faces forced marriage in a town haunted by violence against women.
8:00 pm –
8:20 pm
Short Fiction •
18 min
A boy searches for a father he only knows from a recording.
8:40 pm –
9:00 pm
Short Fiction •
3 min
A young man’s heatstroke reveals delayed empathy.
9:00 pm –
9:05 pm
Short Documentary •
22 min
Four Kurds fight to preserve cultural memory.
9:10 pm –
9:32 pm
Day 3 — Monday, September 22, 2025
Village East by Angelika · Theater 2
@ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Hossein Firouzeh
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan
6:00 pm –
6:20 pm
Screening
Directors: Abdurrahim Karabulut, Mahsun Celayi̇r
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan
6:20 pm –
6:35 pm
Screening
Director: Hadi Ahmadi
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan
6:35 pm –
6:50 pm
Screening
Sharo Shorsh Mohammed
Region: Bashur (South) Kurdistan
6:50 pm –
7:02 pm
Screening
Director: Rebar Rabar Mawlood
Region: Bashur (South) Kurdistan
7:05 pm –
7:15 pm
Screening
Director: Numan Acar
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan
7:15 pm –
7:35 pm
Screening
Director: Nima Abdolazimi
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan
7:35 pm –
7:55 pm
Screening
15 min
Genre: Short Fiction
A tailor clings to hope amid loss in post-ISIS Kobani.
Directors: Maryam Samadi, Roni Schamlian
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan
7:55 pm –
8:10 pm
Screening
Director: Rasa Kamal
Region: Bashur (South) Kurdistan
8:10 pm –
8:35 pm
Screening
Director: Elnaz Zhalehchin
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan
8:35 pm –
9:00 pm
Screening
Short Fiction •
20 min
A woman’s love challenges a cycle of patriarchal control.
6:00 pm –
6:20 pm
Short Fiction •
15 min
A woman risks crossing borders to sell cookies.
6:35 pm –
6:50 pm
Short Fiction •
10 min
A boy discovers a shocking truth after tragedy.
7:05 pm –
7:15 pm
Short Fiction •
20 min
A man who sacrifices himself to bring his wife back to life.
7:35 pm –
7:55 pm
Short Fiction •
15 min
A tailor clings to hope amid loss in post-ISIS Kobani.
7:55 pm –
8:10 pm
Short Fiction •
23 min
A dinner party unravels into jealousy and suspicion.
8:10 pm –
8:35 pm
Day 4 — Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Village East by Angelika · Theater 2
@ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
15 min
Genre: Short Fiction
A Kurdish interpreter risks everything to help a refugee.
Director: Hamoun Dolatshahi
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan, USA
6:00 pm –
6:15 pm
Screening
Hosts: Bahar Simsek & Dilan Erteber
6:15 pm –
6:35 pm
Live Session
Tommy Chavannes, Morgan Tipping
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan
6:35 pm –
7:00 pm
Screening
1 hr 32 min
Genre: Feature Fiction
A Kurdish family endures hardship while dreaming of a better life.
Directors: Emeer Hassanpour, Anvar Hassanpour
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan
7:00 pm –
8:30 pm
Screening
Hosts: Bahar Simsek
8:30 pm –
9:00 pm
Live Session
Short Fiction •
15 min
A Kurdish interpreter risks everything to help a refugee.
6:00 pm –
6:15 pm
Short Documentary •
24 min
Poetry sustains a Kurdish prisoner for 30 years.
6:35 pm –
7:00 pm
Feature Fiction •
1 hr 32 min
A Kurdish family endures hardship while dreaming of a better life.
7:00 pm –
8:30 pm
Day 5 — Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Village East by Angelika · Theater 2
@ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Hosts: Bahar Simsek & Xeyal Qertel
6:00 pm –
7:00 pm
Panel Discussion
1 hr 30 min
Genre: Feature Documentary
Two friends work as kolbars, risking life across Iran’s borders.
Director: Arash Rakhsha
Region: Rojhelat (East) Kurdistan
7:00 pm –
8:30 pm
Screening
Hosts: Xeyal Qertel
8:30 pm –
9:00 pm
Live Session
Feature Documentary •
1 hr 30 min
Two friends work as kolbars, risking life across Iran’s borders.
7:00 pm –
8:30 pm
Closing Night — Thursday, September 25, 2025
Village East by Angelika · Theater 2
@ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
1 hr 30 min
Genre: Feature Fiction
A young man’s effort to help his family jeopardizes his sister’s bond with her beloved sheep.
Director: Orhan İnce
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan
6:00 pm –
7:30 pm
Screening
20 min
Genre: Short Documentary
An elder rebuilds in a village destroyed decades ago.
Uman Işik
Region: Bakur (North) Kurdistan, USA
7:30 pm –
7:50 pm
Screening
8:20 pm –
9:00 pm
Festival Wrap Party
Feature Fiction •
1 hr 30 min
A young man’s effort to help his family jeopardizes his sister’s bond with her beloved sheep.
6:00 pm –
7:30 pm
Short Documentary •
20 min
An elder rebuilds in a village destroyed decades ago.
7:30 pm –
7:50 pm
40 min
Live music by Birayên Soso (Dahul û Zarne – popular Kurdish instruments)
8:20 pm –
9:00 pm