Following the successful voting round of the first edition of the Kurdistan Festival for Environmental Film, the event is beginning to gain international recognition. As part of a strategic step toward globalising Kurdish cinema, a cooperation agreement has been signed with the well-known Italian environmental film festival “Rubar,” opening new opportunities for local filmmakers to reach international audiences.
Pishtiwan Abdullah, director of the Kurdistan Festival for Environmental Film, described this development as an important milestone. “The success of the first edition and the wide coverage of our news in English across local and international media attracted the attention of international institutions and festivals. This led to a direct and genuine connection between us and the Italians,” he said.
The Italian festival, known for its outdoor screenings often held alongside rivers, shares a common vision with the Kurdistan festival in using cinema as a tool for environmental awareness and social responsibility. The agreement, according to Abdullah, is not merely symbolic but represents a practical roadmap for future cooperation.
Future collaboration will focus on three main areas: film exchange, which will include presenting selected Kurdish productions in Italy and introducing Italian works to Kurdish audiences; artistic diplomacy, through the exchange of delegates, experts, and festival representatives; and joint programmes, including workshops and collaborative cinematic activities.
Abdullah emphasized that this partnership marks only the beginning. “Our main goal is to bring the voices of Kurdish filmmakers and environmental documentaries to wider global audiences. In the next stage, we will expand our connections with other international festivals as well,” he said.
Festival organizers also announced a major change in format for the upcoming edition, inspired by the Italian model. The festival is expected to move from closed halls to open-air screenings in natural settings. Sami Abdulrahman Park, along with other tourist and natural sites in Erbil, has been identified as potential venues for large outdoor cinema screenings.
These international partnerships are expected to strengthen the Kurdistan Festival’s position among global specialized film festivals while providing a platform to showcase the identity, culture, and artistic talent of Kurdish youth beyond borders. The initiative also reinforces cinema’s role as an ambassador for environmental awareness, cultural exchange, and peaceful engagement between nations.
