The feature film Hard Earth and Distant Sky will be screened at the twelfth Duhok International Film Festival, which is scheduled to run from 9 to 19 December 2025. The film marks the first feature length production by Kurdish director Hawraz Mohammed and is a collaborative project involving artists from all four regions of Kurdistan.
Written by Hawraz Mohammed and Mansour Teifuri, the film is a social drama that draws strength from its diverse cast. The leading roles are performed by Bakhtiar Panjei, Maryam Boubani, Azhdar Sazgar, and Dimen Zandi.
Director Hawraz Mohammed said the film will appear at the festival as a guest screening. He explained that the story follows Harun, a man deeply scarred by war. Seeking peace, he takes refuge with an elderly village woman named Mary, who remains in mourning for her son. The two attempt to heal through a shared ritual, but the narrative shifts when it is revealed that Harun was responsible for the death of the woman’s son. Rather than seeking revenge, Mary chooses forgiveness, realising that both Harun and her son were victims of war.
Mohammed said he believes real stories are best told through film. He described Hard Earth and Distant Sky as a work rooted in the Kurdish experience, exploring Kurdish identity, love, and the impact of conflict through an artistic narrative. The film blends poetic form with elements of magical realism in an effort to portray the emotional landscape of life after war.
The director noted that the film has already achieved significant recognition. At the fifth Slemani International Film Festival, it received five major awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Cinematography.
