Jubrael Abubakir’s documentary explores the lives, struggles, and hopes of Kurds across Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria.
The documentary film “The Fragmented Pomegranate,” directed by Jubrael Abubakir, has won the Best Documentary Award at the Orlando Independent Filmmakers Awards Festival in Orlando, Florida.
Abubakir said the film takes a humanitarian approach to the experiences of Kurds across Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria, focusing on communities that have faced war, displacement, discrimination, oppression, and the denial of basic human rights.
“The film does not simply portray the suffering of this community,” Abubakir said. “It seeks to reveal the humanity and dreams behind those hardships—people who, despite immense adversity, continue to hope for an ordinary, peaceful, and secure life.”
He said the documentary also presents Southern Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Region, as a relatively peaceful and secure place that has become a refuge for some Kurds from neighboring countries who have fled war and instability.
Describing the significance of the festival, Abubakir said the Orlando Independent Filmmakers Festival is an annual international event in Orlando dedicated to supporting independent filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers from around the world.
The festival recognizes films in several categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best International Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
According to Abubakir, the festival received 4,650 submissions, of which only 100 films were officially selected. “The Fragmented Pomegranate” was ultimately chosen as the winner of the Best Documentary Award.
Abubakir has participated in numerous international film festivals and has received several international honors and awards for his work.