Eighteen films in Sorani and Kurmanji highlight Kurdish culture,
history, and the experiences of the Kurdish people
The third annual Kurdish Film Festival is taking place in Chicago, Illinois, bringing Kurdish cinema and storytelling to audiences in the United States. Organized by the Kurdish Cultural Centre of Illinois, this year’s festival features 18 films produced in both Sorani and Kurmanji.
Among the films selected for screening are File No. 1, Who Am I?, Footprints of the Ants, and Night and Fog in Kurdistan, along with several other productions.
The festival was first launched in 2024 and has since become an annual event held towards the end of the year. Organizers have invited members of the Kurdish diaspora in Chicago and across the American Midwest. State officials have also been invited to attend and show their support for Kurdish filmmakers.
Dalal Hasan, one of the festival’s organizers, said the event provides an important opportunity to highlight the role of art and storytelling in discussions about Kurdistan and the Kurdish question.
She explained that cinema can offer a closer look at people’s experiences of state violence, social divisions, and occupation, allowing filmmakers to share stories and perspectives that are often overlooked.
Through the festival, organizers hope to encourage audiences to appreciate the creative power of art and the many stories emerging from Kurdistan.
Hasan also emphasized the festival’s importance for younger generations of the Kurdish diaspora, particularly those born and raised in the United States. She said watching Kurdish films provides a meaningful opportunity to connect with their cultural roots, language, and heritage.
“We want to show that Kurdish cinema can create a new understanding of Kurdish history, culture, and language in the world, especially at a time when the world often sees a distorted image,” Hasan said. “Art can reduce that gap in understanding and create a new way of thinking and reflection.”
The festival offers Kurdish filmmakers an opportunity to present their work to international audiences while helping preserve Kurdish stories, languages, and cultural identity for future generations.