DIWAN

Director: Salam Majeed
United Kingdom 2007 / 10m / Kurdish (Sorani) with English subtitles / PG

A short documentary about the Kurdish poet Jamal Sharbazheri who was one of the most influential poets in South Kurdistan in the 1950s and 60s. He now lives a lonely life in London away from his family.

MINE AND TABLOU

Director: Hossein Jehani
Australia 2002 / 22m / Kurdish (Sorani) with English subtitles / PG

The moving story of the Kurdish artist Sarwet Sawz who died recently in a car crash in south Kurdistan. In order to survive, this widely acclaimed artist was having to work dismantling mines by day and painting only at night. This film is dedicated to his memory.

RESISTANCE

Director: Orsola Casagrande, Bibi Bozzato
Italy 2007 / 40m / Turkish, Kurdish (Kurmanji) with English subtitles / PG

This documentary portrait of the Kurdish band Koma Berxwedan, produced by the Italian left wing daily newspaper Il Manifesto, is also the story of the Kurdish liberation movement. One of the most interesting experimental, innovative bands on the Kurdish music scene, Koma Berxwedan is what might be called an 'open band', where the musicians, by choice or necessity, become 'inter-changeable' so to speak. As well as a deep love for all aspects of music, the band has always put into its work a strong political commitment. It is not by chance that some of its members have left the band to join the guerrillas in the Kurdish mountains. Some of them have also lost their lives. Others have been forced to live in exile. Others are still working in Kurdistan despite all the difficulties and repression.

WHO ARE WE?

Director: Susan Kornalijnslijper
Holland 2007 / 63m / English, Kurdish (kurmanji and Sorani), Turkish with English subtitles / PG

The World Premiere of a documentary about Sivan Perwer, the Kurdish protest singer who has lived in exile, in Europe for over 30 years. With a breathtaking voice and strong stage presence, he sings political lyrics in Kurdish. He is one the living symbols for Kurds worldwide and his songs are still widely banned. Alongside the concert footage, there are scenes of life inside and outside of Kurdistan. The film also focuses on a number of Kurds who have been strongly influenced by his music. Dutch filmmaker Susan Kornalijnslijper travelled on the road with Sivan Perwer for 5 years to make this documentary: not so easy in occupied Kurdistan where, she noticed, there seem to be lots of men wearing sunglasses, even when the sun isn't shining!

WOMEN DENGBEJ

Director: The Collective of Atölyemor
Turkey 2006 / 22m / Kurdish (Kurmanji) with English subtitles / PG

Excluded from written culture, Kurdish women have been passing on their experiences and histories from generation to generation through storytelling and songs. This film presents the testimonies of these women who try to keep a threatened culture alive in spite of the opposition of their families and communities.