For four days in Amsterdam, Kurdish cinema found a home. The fifth edition of the Amsterdam Kurdish Film Festival drew 35 Kurdish films from across the world to the Dutch capital, unfolding under the theme “Between Tradition and Change” — a title that captured both the artistic ambitions of the event and the cultural moment it sought to reflect.
Festival spokesperson Ari Karim was careful to distinguish the event from the conventional film festival model. “The fifth edition of the Kurdish Film Festival in Amsterdam was not organized as a major cinematic competition similar to general international festivals, with awards for categories such as best actor, best cinematography, or best editing,” he said.
“Rather, the main focus of this festival was on screening, dialogue, and bringing filmmakers together — not competition across different categories.”
Within that framework, one formal prize was given. The festival’s academy award — its sole official recognition, was presented to director Lanya Nureddin for the short film “Under.”
Karim described the honor as a tribute to the film’s quality and message, noting that it addresses genocide, the erasure of history, and the suppression of memory through a silent encounter between two men, in which nature and the surrounding environment become witnesses to events.
The choice of subject matter, and the restraint with which it was handled, clearly resonated with the festival jury.
Beyond the screening program, the festival structured time deliberately around human connection. After each screening, directors and their teams were given dedicated time to engage with audiences, a practice Karim described as a form of recognition in its own right. Panels and discussion forums were also held throughout the event.
All selected directors and films received official festival certificates acknowledging their inclusion in the formal program, a gesture that, for many, carried real professional weight.
For a significant number of participants, the festival represented something more than a screening. “The festival was also a first opportunity for many young filmmakers to present their work in an international venue and build connections with audiences and the film industry,” Karim said.
The event did not end with the final credits. Cultural activities, music, and artistic encounters were woven into the program, transforming the festival into what its organizers envisioned as a living space of Kurdish community and creative solidarity.