Gulizer Kerem Gerdenzeri, Director of the Moscow Kurdish Film Festival, told Kurdistan Chronicle that this year’s festival will take place from September 18 to 22 and will focus on intercultural dialogue and Kurdish-Russia connections with Russia.

“Russia is a multinational and multicultural country, home to about 180 peoples, including the Kurds. The first Kurdish settlements appeared in Russia in the 18th century. The relationship between the Kurds and Russia has a rather long history, dating back to the 19th century during the wars between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman and Persian empires,” she told Kurdistan Chronicle.

“The number of Kurdish communities in the Russian Empire increased significantly after the South Caucasus became part of it. Today, the Kurdish diaspora in Russia represents an ethnic minority of about 100,000 people,” Gerdenzeri added.

This festival was first held in 2021, and will be held for the fourth time this year. Last year, the festival showcased nearly 54 films. This year, Gerdenzeri said they hope to present even more movies, having just commenced the submission process for the festival.

“Every year the festival is included by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation in the list of international film festivals held in Russia. Our festival, which began as a tribute to all Kurds and Kurdistan, has quickly evolved to become a beacon of Kurdish culture and art,” she stated.

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She emphasized that Kurdish film festivals are successfully held in Europe and the United States, and said that Moscow is no exception. “As the organizers of this film festival, we can attest to the interest of the Russian audience in Kurdish cinema, the Kurds, and their culture.”

The festival is also supported by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Culture and Youth. 

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“The recognition of our festival by the KRG, the presence of the KRG Minister of Culture and Youth Mohammad Said Ali in the delegation, and the extensive coverage by leading Russian, Kurdish, and Middle Eastern media outlets further underscore its growing prominence,” Gerdenzeri added.