Documentary Film Welcoming Death to Be Screened in Zakho, Highlighting the War Against ISIS

The Directorate of Culture and Arts in Zakho, in cooperation with the Zakho branch of the Artists’ Syndicate, will organise a special screening of the documentary film Welcoming Death, directed by Nasrin Abidin. The film sheds light on the events and tragedies that unfolded during the war against ISIS terrorists.

According to an announcement, the event will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 14 October 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the Zakho Municipal Hall. Attendance will be open to all citizens, art enthusiasts and intellectuals.

Welcoming Death is a documentary that explores a sensitive period marked by immense sacrifice by the people of Kurdistan in confronting ISIS militants. Through an artistic and documentary approach, the film also presents lesser-known aspects of the conflict, the suffering endured by civilians, and the struggle of the forces defending the region during that period.

The film was produced by Amed Films and Docudrama, with the support of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Peshmerga Zerevani Media Centre, and Kurdistan TV.

The production team included Nizar Michael as director of photography, Bilal Shakir as editor, Irv Johnson in the original music department, and Mohammed Abidin as assistant director. Sound engineering was handled by Hassan Mohammadi, colour grading by Maysam Kamali, editing consultancy by Hoshyar Z. Nerwayi, and the film’s translation by Lawin Mohammed.

Following the 2014 attacks by ISIS across parts of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, particularly the tragedy of Sinjar and its surrounding areas, Kurdish filmmakers and artists have made sustained efforts to document the atrocities and the courageous resistance of the Peshmerga and local communities.

Such cinematic and documentary productions serve not only as a living historical archive that preserves the truth of these events, but also play a significant role in bringing the voices of victims to the attention of domestic and international audiences.

As one of the important cultural centres of the Badinan region, Zakho continues to promote cinema and the documentation of contemporary history through its cultural and artistic activities.

Edited by Davan Yahya Khalil