Book Talk: “Statelet of Survivors” by Amy Austin Holmes
“Statelet of Survivors” by Amy Austin Holmes Statelet of Survivors: The Making of a Semi-Autonomous Region in Northeast Syria (Oxford University Press) tells the remarkable story of the people who not only triumphed over ISIS but created a model of decentralized governance in Syria that empowers women and minorities. The Autonomous Administration of North and […]
Sidar Çapik, musician
Sidar Çapik, musician Sidar Çapik is a Kurdish singer and music producer based in Southern California. He blends Kurdish storytelling, dengbêjî, with jazz and electronic music elements to bring universality to his cultural heritage. Sidar aims to introduce Kurdish folk music to Western audiences, showcasing the richness of his people’s history. Sitranbêj û berhemhêner ê […]
Panel: Resisting Erasure with Kamal Soleimani
Resisting Erasure: The Role of Kurdish Lexicography in Preserving Language and Identity States deliberately attempt to strip Kurdish language of its political and cultural significance by marginalizing it, reducing it to a dialect, a folkloric artifact, or a local tradition. These strategic maneuvers are designed to undermine its role in national identity and imagination and […]
Panel: Aftermath of Halabja
Aftermath of Halabja A few months before the end of the Iran-Iraq War, the Iraqi regime under Saddam Hussain exploited the chaos to attack the Kurdish people behind the scenes. In 1987-88 it carried out the Anfal campaign to murder Kurdish civilians en masse, loot their belongings, and destroy their villages. Saddam named the campaign […]
“Standing on the Right Foot” by Vahid Eslami
Standing on the Right Foot VAHID ESLAMI Rojhelat (East Kurdistan), 2023 Sorani (Kurdish), with English subtitles Short Fiction | Çirokê Kurt 15 minutes | 15 xulek Trailer: Watch the trailer here | Di vir re hûn dikarin rêklamê temaşebikin | لێرەوە ترایلەری فیلمەکە ببینە Synopsis: Saeed is disabled–he hobbles on a single crutch, dragging his lame leg. He […]
“1988” by Hezhwan Zendi
1988 HEZHWAN ZENDI Başur (South Kurdistan), 2023 Sorani, with English subtitles Feature Fiction | Filmê Dirêj 80 minutes | 80 xulek Trailer: Watch the trailer here | Di vir re hûn dikarin rêklamê temaşebikin | لێرەوە ترایلەری فیلمەکە ببینە Synopsis: It is the winter of 1988, at the peak of the Iran-Iraq War. In the border town […]
“Nigeria” by Sabah Gavili
Nigeria | Nîjerya SABAH GAVILI Rojhelat (East Kurdistan), 2023 Sorani (Kurdish), with English subtitles Student Film | Filmê şagirta 17 minutes | 17 xulek Trailer: Watch the trailer here | Di vir re hûn dikarin rêklamê temaşebikin | لێرەوە ترایلەری فیلمەکە ببینە Synopsis: Two young men steal a car, take drugs—and hit a pedestrian. Du xort tiranbêl […]
“Homo Fuge” by Mashaallah Mohammadi
Homo Fuge MASHAALLAH MOHAMMADI Rojhelat (East Kurdistan), 2024 No dialogue Animation |Ênîmêşin | ئانیمەیشن 4 minutes | 4 xulek Synopsis: A man sells everything to buy a good pair of shoes. Zilamek her tiştî difiroşe ji bo cotek solên baş bikire پیاوێک هەموو شتەکانی دەفرۆشێت بۆ کڕینی جوتێک پێڵاوی باش NYKFF8 Screening Tuesday, October 15, @6:10pm-6:15pm […]
“Jinwar” by Nadya Derwiş
Jinwar (Women’s Village) | ژینوار NADIA DERWIŞ Rojava (West Kurdistan), 2024 Kurmancî (Kurdish), with English subtitles Feature Documentary | Belgefîlma Dirêj 41 minutes | 41 xulek Trailer: Watch the trailer here | Di vir re hûn dikarin rêklamê temaşebikin | لێرەوە ترایلەری فیلمەکە ببینە Synopsis: In 2017, a group of women set out to create an all-women village […]
“Bi Sotun” by Ali Masoumi
Bi Sotun | بی ستون ALI MASOUMI Rojhelat (East Kurdistan), 2022 Persian (Farsi) Animation 4 minutes | 4 xulek Synopsis: In Iranian Kurdistan, a woman head of household becomes a kolbar, smuggling goods across a border, in order to support her children. The work of kolbars—who are mostly men— is extremely dangerous: they trek over […]
