Organized by the Kurdish Cultural Center of Illinois (KCCI), the inaugural Chicago Kurdish Film Festival opens on Saturday, November 2. An immersive celebration of Kurdish culture, heritage, and storytelling through the captivating medium of cinema, this event serves as a testament to the richness and diversity of Kurdish narratives, inviting audiences to embark on a cinematic journey that illuminates the Kurdish experience.
"This festival marks a historic milestone in the cultural center’s mission to amplify Kurdish voices and narratives," remarked Bahadin Kerborani, Co-President of the KCCI. Ridwan Zozani, who shares the co-presidency with Kerborani and is the main curator of the festival, noted that “the Chicago area is home to roughly 3,000 Kurds, and we are thrilled not only to celebrate our culture with our own community, but to welcome and share our creative vibrancy with our neighbors.”
Kurdistan Chronicle is one of the main sponsors of the festival. Botan Tahseen, the publisher of Kurdistan Chronicle, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting Kurdish communities and promoting the Kurdish language and culture internationally. “Kurdistan Chronicle has become a prominent voice of the Kurds worldwide,” he said. “We are excited to support Kurdish communities globally and aim to unite all Kurds, regardless of their religion, or ethnicity.”
Please consider donating to the KCCI to help us reach our goal of purchasing a physical space in Chicago, Illinois. You may do so in the following ways:
— Kurdish Cultural Center of Illinois (KCCI) (@KurdsOfIllinois) February 20, 2022
- KCCI Fundraising Campaign: https://t.co/0oFtQzhyZ3
- PayPal: https://t.co/BDsofoB6Ob
- AmazonSmile: https://t.co/wSDtW8swvK
The festival will be held at Loyola University’s Damen Cinema on November 2 and November 3, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. Spanning two days, the festival will showcase a curated selection of short and full-length films and documentaries from Kurdistan – which primarily includes regions of Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq – as well as submissions from Europe and Canada. “Representing the artistic expression and cultural depth of Kurdistan through the eyes of Kurdish filmmakers, these films delve into Kurdish conflict, history, and tradition, as well as offering thought-provoking narratives and personal tales,” the KCCI explained in a statement.
