A proud moment for Kurdish cinema unfolded in Milan, Italy, where filmmaker Rakat Hama Tofiq was honored with the Best Director award at the prestigious Vertigo Film Festival for his powerful documentary Baba Noel.
Now in its sixth year, the Vertigo Film Festival is an international showcase of independent cinema, held annually in the vibrant city of Milan from July 3 to July 7. This year, more than 50 selected films from across the world were screened—each telling a unique story through the lens of its creators. Among these voices, Rakat Hama Tofiq stood out.
His winning film, Baba Noel, is a moving documentary produced by the General Directorate of Culture and Arts in Sulaymaniyah, under the Cinema Arts Department. It was not only a showcase of cinematic skill but also a reflection of Kurdish identity and storytelling on the global stage.
Rakat, also known as Rekawt Hama Tofiq, is a well-known figure in Kurdish cinema. A graduate of the Theater Department at the Fine Arts Institute of Sulaymaniyah, he currently serves as a director at the Cinema Department in Sulaymaniyah. Over the years, he has written and directed several acclaimed short films and documentaries, earning accolades at film festivals across the United States, Russia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Spain, Syria—and now, Italy.
This latest award further cements his place as a leading voice in Kurdish filmmaking and highlights the growing presence of Kurdish artists on the international cultural map.
