15th Berlin Kurdish Film Fest Kicks Off, Spotlighting Kurdish & Yazidi Resilience
The 15th Berlin Kurdish Film Festival, themed around coexistence, kicked off on September 25, 2025, at Kino Babylon and online. The festival, running until October 1, presents emotionally charged moments through documentaries and dramas, highlighting the struggles and resilience of Kurdish and Yazidi communities in Syria, Iraq, and Turkey.
The opening film, 'The Virgin and Child', directed by Berivan Binevsa, depicts the aftermath of IS's treatment of Yazidis, many of whom ethnically identify as Kurdish. The film follows Avesta, a young Kurdish-Yazidi woman, as she seeks revenge against her captor after being rescued. Despite avoiding physical violence, the film conveys Avesta's trauma and struggle to reclaim her dignity, torn from her homeland.
Other documentaries, such as 'Love in the Face of Genocide' and 'I Was a Yazidi Slave', delve into the experiences of these communities, showcasing their resilience and the power of human connection. The festival also features discussions with directors and actors, offering insights into the creative process and the real-life stories behind the films.
The festival's closing party on September 30 at SO36 promises an energetic celebration with live performances and DJs, with tickets priced at 30 euros.
Through powerful storytelling and community engagement, the 15th Berlin Kurdish Film Festival amplifies the voices of Kurdish and Yazidi communities, fostering understanding and promoting peace. The festival's focus on coexistence serves as a reminder of the shared humanity among all people, regardless of their background or the hardships they've endured.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
