As a new phase in the discussion of a resolution to the Kurdish question takes shape, and as the topic of the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the laying down of arms enters the public agenda, recognizing the truth of lived history and choosing to consign the PKK to the past with reflection rather than haste becomes all the more vital. It is a matter of grounding the future on a foundation that honors the past.

As the exceptional place of the PKK in the Kurdish freedom struggle is remembered, etched into the minds and hearts of all patriotic, revolutionary, democratic, and socialist individuals, a historic chapter, with all its strengths and shortcomings, is being closed. In such a meaningful moment when Kurdish existence is once again a central issue, the documentary Kurdish Awakening presents the PKK as a movement whose theoretical and practical-organizational legacy will undoubtedly continue to live on in the spirit of new revolutionary and socialist constructions.

The PKK, which has led a relentless struggle for nearly half a century, is now seen as completing its historical mission. Yet it is certain that the developments it has triggered will leave a lasting mark for many generations to come. The documentary Kurdish Awakening is a profoundly meaningful effort that brings together the experiences, lessons, and insights of the past through the voices of first-hand witnesses, creating a comprehensive body of work.

Preserving the knowledge and documents of this resurrection story for future generations and transforming them into a living source of meaning bears the responsibility of immortalizing a struggle. This film brings together the fallen, who were among the most powerful sources of strength and legitimacy in this fight, as well as the living heroes, the social base, and long-time allies of the movement. The emotional atmosphere created by the documentary is already making its presence felt.

Kurdish Awakening shows that portraying the PKK with justice while doing honor to its long history of struggle is no less demanding than the PKK’s own practices of resistance and rebirth. To speak from the full depth of the movement’s memory with its wealth of knowledge, emotional depth, and intuitive power is to go beyond a documentary and create a work of living meaning.

There is hardly anything the history of the PKK has not witnessed. It has touched the lives of people from every segment of society. Its memory holds space not only for its supporters but also for its opponents. Whether in the mountains or in the prisons, the PKK has drawn profound lessons from a struggle where resistance and betrayal often went hand in hand in every aspect of life. Through this documentary, a great legacy is being left to the peoples, to future generations, and to history itself.

The documentary Kurdish Awakening, which recounts this story, is significant in its effort to preserve the collective memory that the PKK has painstakingly built, stitch by stitch, thread by thread, like digging a well with a needle, and aims to pass it on to the future. It serves as a bridge between the present and the future, built from the memory that continues to move forward. And the conclusions to be drawn from the historical and societal lessons told by that memory crossing the bridge will be both searing and deeply instructive.

One of the most significant issues to be formally documented through this film is the question of what the PKK is, what it has brought about, and what it ultimately aims to achieve. This documentary offers a historical narrative that emerges from the deep roots of the natural society destroyed over the past five thousand years by the dominant forces of central civilization. It brings to life the paradigm of the PKK, one that draws strength from its natural foundations, builds on democratic values, embraces ecological awareness, and centers women's liberation, laying the groundwork for a new sense of society and envisioning the construction of an ethical-political community.

Although the PKK originated as a Kurdish movement, it has produced significant gains not only for the Kurdish people and their geography but also for the diverse faiths and identities of the broader region. It has become a leading force of both thought and practice, playing a unifying role while preserving the uniqueness of various social communities. The documentary Kurdish Awakening closely examines the story of these historical phases.

Throughout its history, the PKK has carried the legacy of all leftist, socialist, and revolutionary movements that have taken root across the Middle East. It has remained loyal to their memory, embraced their causes, and transformed them into the very rationale of its struggle. The PKK has walked alongside all peoples of the region, sharing a common destiny and building a practice grounded in solidarity. Today, through the paradigm it represents, it has proven itself as a pioneer of a new model of social construction, one that fosters a culture of coexistence among peoples and gives it a democratic character. The documentary Kurdish Awakening presents this culture of shared life as a visual experience, blending it with artistic depth and chronicling its development within a comprehensive and chronological narrative.

The PKK has become a center of attraction for revolutionaries from across the world, from Latin America to the United States, Europe, Russia, and various regions of the Middle East. Through its inclusion of cadres from diverse identities and faiths, it has evolved into a movement with a truly international character. As viewers watch the documentary, they will witness the vivid and colorful world of the PKK and encounter the extraordinary stories of individuals whose lives intersected within the movement.

There are countless aspects in which the PKK stands out with its unique characteristics. One of the most significant is that its foundation is built on labor. Every value gained through struggle, won tooth and nail, rests on the foundation of immense effort. To understand the development of the movement, one must first grasp the distinctive style, rhythm, and tone of its leadership. That understanding is the first step toward truly knowing the PKK.

The documentary Kurdish Awakening opens the doors of a vast laboratory to all segments of society. In every life story told, in every frame shown, in every social and personal reflection expressed, viewers will encounter a truth that may lead them to say, “This is my story.” Within this laboratory, audiences will have the opportunity to observe a historical evolution, from mythology to religion, from philosophy to science, from the Neolithic age to centralized civilizations, and from the local to the universal.

Above all, this documentary allows viewers to witness, in the flow of a river, the uprising of a fragmented, colonized society that dared to stand alone against the global capitalist system, armed only with their bare hearts and unbreakable will.

Everyone who contributed to Kurdish Awakening, from content creators to every person involved in the production, has earned deep and heartfelt gratitude.