The Hawar Theater Group from Kirkuk is representing Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with its play Salma at the eighth Ostrovsky-FEST International Theater Festival in the city of Kineshma, Ivanovo Oblast, Russia, which will take place on August 18-23, 2025.

Najad Najm, the play’s director and scenographer, told Kurdistan Chronicle that this is the first time a Kurdish theater group has participated in the Ostrovsky-FEST International Theater Festival.

The group wear traditional Kurdish clothing during the play, which is performed in Kurdish.

Najm said that Salma addresses the genocidal Anfal campaign and the displacement of the people of Kurdistan. He added that the play was written by Dr. Dilshad Mustafa. Hawar Fares plays the lead role, while Yasin and Aras Saleh are responsible for set design and technical work. Aras Yasin handles the music, and Ali Aras is responsible for media and production.

The festival will continue until August 23 and includes a competition and awards.