The London Kurdish Film Festival (LKFF), held under the theme “Dîsa Govend” (Once Again, the Halay, a traditional dance), offers not only a cinematic celebration but also a tribute to the cultural and political resistance of the Kurdish people.

Powerful message through opening and closing films

The festival will open with ‘A Happy Day’, directed by Kurdish filmmaker Hisham Zaman. Set in a refugee camp in northern Norway, the film tells the story of three young people yearning to fulfill their dreams, and how their fates shift when one of them falls in love.

The closing film will be A Touch of Freedom, a Swedish documentary directed by Manal Masri. The film explores the traces left behind by Kurdish youth who lost their lives during the Kobanê resistance and documents the struggle they bravely captured on camera.

58 films

This year’s festival will feature 10 feature films, 13 full-length documentaries, 20 short fiction films, 14 short documentaries, and 1 animated film. Screenings will take place at Picturehouse in North London and Rio Cinema in Dalston. Musician Ali Tekbaş will perform at the opening reception.

Resistance, memory and hope

Festival Director Ferhan Sterk emphasized that this year’s theme is “Dîsa Govend,” stating, “It is no longer only pain and war that should be told, but also the life, love, and hope found within resistance.”

Sterk noted how the Kurdish people manage to hold on to life even in the midst of war. He said, “For example, when we think of a mother who lost her son in the war dancing the halay at his grave, it is not just an image of grief, it is also a portrait of resistance. In that sense, Kurdish cinema actually holds the possibility of a hopeful and even joyful ending.”

Women directors in the spotlight

This year’s festival will especially highlight the work of Kurdish women directors living outside Kurdistan. Among the standout films are 'Im toten Winkel' ('In the Blind Spot'), an award-winning work by Ayşe Polat, and 'Winners' by Soleen Yusef. Festival Director Ferhan Sterk emphasized the significance of showcasing films by Kurdish women directors in the diaspora, calling it a deeply meaningful part of this year’s program.

A political stance and a cultural expression

Festival Director Ferhan Sterk underlined that the event is not merely a film gathering. He said, “This year as well, the festival should be seen not only as a cinematic event, but also as a political stance, a form of cultural expression, and a manifestation of solidarity between communities.”

Sterk also noted that the festival is entirely run by volunteers, and that this collective spirit of solidarity makes a significant contribution to Kurdish cinema. He added, “Through the films being screened, audiences will not only witness the stories of the Kurdish people, but also feel shared human experiences, universal emotions, and the deep need for solidarity.”

Awards and jury

The festival will present several awards, including the Roja Zer, Mehmet Aksoy, Yılmaz Güney, and Tahir Kerim awards, as well as honors for best actress, best actor, and a lifetime achievement award. The jury includes notable figures such as Özgür Amed, Joanna Bocheńska, Arsalan Amiri, Dimitris Kerkinos, Seray Genç, and Zahavi Sanjavi.

Once again, the London Kurdish Film Festival not only brings Kurdish cinema to a global audience but also takes on the responsibility of keeping cultural memory alive.