Cultural figures, filmmakers, and cinema enthusiasts gathered in Marivan to mark the 100th anniversary of Zaré, widely recognized as the foundational film of Kurdish cinematic history.
Directed in 1926 by renowned filmmaker Hamo Beknazarian, the silent production represents both the earliest Kurdish feature film and a cornerstone of early Soviet-era Armenian cinematography. The screening in Marivan celebrated the work’s historical significance as a pioneering effort to portray Kurdish identity, culture, and social reality through early moving images.
Filmed in Soviet Armenia, Zaré secured an enduring place in regional film history as the first movie to document the daily lives, customs, and social conditions of the Yazidi Kurdish community in the region then known as “Red Kurdistan” (Kurdistansky Uyezd). Beknazarian’s work blended artistic storytelling with anthropological insight, depicting the community’s struggles during the early days of silent cinema. The production also stands as a historical testament to early cultural collaboration between Kurdish and Armenian artists.
Organizers noted that commemorating the film’s centenary offers an opportunity to re-examine the historical trajectory of Kurdish filmmaking. Rather than treating cinema as a recent development, the event underscored the deep roots of Kurdish film heritage and the long journey of pioneering artists who brought the community’s social and cultural narratives to the silver screen.
