The Kurdish documentary Life After Freedom has been officially selected for the Egyptian American Film Festival, an annual cinema and arts event held in New York City.
The festival launched its first edition in November 2021 at San Francisco College, screening forty films from eleven countries across categories that included feature films, short films, and documentaries. The second edition in 2022 expanded its programme, hosting screenings at New York University, Middlesex University, and City Tech College with entries from twenty two countries in five competition categories, including mobile cinema and student films.
Speaking about the selection, the film’s director described the festival as an event built on connecting science with art by recognising prominent scientific figures from around the world whose work has served humanity. He noted that the festival has been held at American universities to highlight the role of knowledge in artistic progress and that participating artists are honoured for both their craft and the messages they share.
He added that the festival aims to support creativity and emerging talent, encourage filmmakers, and open channels of communication among artists while addressing social and humanitarian issues. Workshops in acting, directing, music, and screenwriting have helped discover new talents, many of whom performed at the opening and closing ceremonies to positive reception from audiences and media.
Shamal Hussein said the documentary follows the lives of young Yazidi men and women after their rescue from ISIS, exploring how they rebuild their lives through marriage, community, and new beginnings. It also presents the experiences of survivors living with psychological trauma and recounts the story of the Yazidi liberation.