The second Istanbul Kurdish Film Festival, organised by the Mesopotamian Cinema Collective, will be held from March 24th to 29th. Twenty-eight films will be screened at the festival, which starts with the film Kurdish Yazidis. The festival will continue for five days and end with the movie Namo.

Kurdish and Turkish subtitles will be available in all films to be screened during the festival, and the censored films will also be screened during the festival.

Hazal Gültekin, a member of the Mesopotamian Cinema Collective, gave information about the festival, where there are few days left. Gultekin stated that they would continue to produce art as Kurdish artists, Jin News reports.

“We know that this state doesn’t even want to hear a Kurdish name. Culture and art aside, they don’t even accept Kurdish existence. As artists, we will still exist with our art, no matter how much the government tries to block it. We will bring our art to the people.” Gültekin says.

She continues:

“The state wants to end the Kurdish presence. We, artists, know that culture and art are very important for the history and future of a people. For this reason, the state wants to destroy history, language, culture and art first.”

She also emphasises the role of women in cinema.

“We know there are women in Rojava who are filmmakers. There are also women who work in cinema in Bakûr Kurdistan. But those women were never in sight. And we know why they’re not visible. Because male dominated mentality doesn’t allow it.”

Finally, Gültekin invited all cinema lovers to the second Istanbul Kurdish Film Festival, which will be held in Cine Majestik in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul.

Casime Celil, Brindarim, Wejine Perperoke, Pele Landless, Walnut Tree, Sidik u Panter, Evin Di Ruye Qirkirine De are among the films that will be screened during the festival.