The Mesopotamia Cultural Center (MKM) Cinema Collective has organised the 2nd edition of the Istanbul Kurdish Film Festival which kicks off today.

The festival will present 28 feature, documentary and short films and will address themes such as “women, life and nature”. W

The opening (as the closure of the festival) will be held at the Cemil Candaş City Cultural Center in Şişli. Film screenings will stay for 5 days at Cinemajestik Cinema in Beyoğlu. The films will be subtitled in both Turkish and Kurdish.

The film chosen to open the festival will be Yazidi Kurds by Amasi Martirosyan (1933) while the closing film will be Namo.

Adar Taş from the Mesopotamia Cinema Collective emphasized the value of art and pointed out that many societies perform and disclose their identities through cinema. “However, Kurds and communities in similar situations have experienced many challenges.  Many obstacles, ranging from assimilation efforts to material and moral challenges, have prevented the development of Kurdish cinema. This situation continues in various ways. We are aware of the situation as the festival's organizing group. On this basis, we are organising the second event. In every way, the Kurdish people are engaged in a national battle with their own culture and art. Our hope is to be a spark to this."