The 7th Kobani International Film Festival will take place from September 4–6 at the Schauburg Filmpalast in Germany under the slogan “Cinema is Memory.”
Festival director Cengo Sherif said this year’s edition has attracted 913 film submissions from 102 countries, reflecting continued international interest in the event. Of those entries, 75 films have been selected for the official competition, while 35 additional films will be screened during the three-day festival. A total of eight awards will be presented.
Sherif noted a significant shift in the geographic distribution of submissions. While Iran had consistently ranked first in the number of entries during the previous six editions, participation from the country declined sharply this year because of the war, domestic unrest, and other ongoing challenges. Germany now leads in the number of submissions, followed by France and India.
The festival’s top honours will recognise achievements across several categories, including Best Kurdish Film, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best International Film, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.
Last year’s festival, held in Bochum, Germany, received a record more than 1,100 submissions from 127 countries. Of those entries, 29 films were selected for the official programme and screened during the event.
The annual festival has become an important platform for Kurdish and international filmmakers, bringing together diverse cinematic voices while promoting cultural dialogue through film.
