Erbil's 'Cinema and the Public' Project Draws Growing Audiences

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Nearly 200 Kurdish feature films have been screened in Erbil over the past four years through a government-backed initiative aimed at bringing cinema closer to the public and expanding audiences for Kurdish filmmaking.

The project, known as "Cinema and the Public," is organized by the Erbil Cinema and Theater Directorate with support from the governor of Erbil.

Under the initiative, a Kurdish feature film is screened every Wednesday at Empire Cinema, creating a regular public platform for Kurdish filmmakers and audiences.

Shakhawan Mustafa, director of the Erbil Cinema and Theater Directorate, told Kurdistan24 that approximately 200 Kurdish feature films had been shown since the project began four years ago.

"Public attendance at the cinema has been remarkable, and tourists constitute a significant proportion of the audience," Mustafa said.

Demand has occasionally been high enough for organizers to repeat a film several times in the same week, he added.

"In some weeks, high demand has led to the same film being screened as many as three times," Mustafa said.

The screenings take place every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and are free of charge.

A regular cinema ticket in Erbil costs around 12,000 Iraqi dinars, making the initiative an accessible alternative for audiences who may otherwise be unable or unwilling to pay for commercial screenings.

The program seeks to strengthen the relationship between Kurdish cinema and the wider public by creating a predictable weekly space where locally produced films can reach viewers.

The presence of tourists among the audiences has also given Kurdish films exposure beyond their traditional domestic viewership.

The initiative comes at a time when filmmakers in the Kurdistan Region continue to face financial constraints.

Mustafa said the Kurdistan Regional Government's fiscal difficulties had prevented it from providing direct financial assistance to cinema projects in recent years.

Despite those limitations, he said the Erbil Cinema and Theater Directorate continues to offer logistical assistance to filmmakers and directors.

That support includes helping facilitate screenings and cultural activities designed to sustain the local film sector despite limited production funding.

The directorate has also sought to broaden Erbil's cinematic connections through cooperation with foreign diplomatic missions in the Kurdistan Region.

Mustafa said joint programs have been organized with countries including Egypt, India and Ireland.

"We have organized joint programs and events with several countries, including Egypt, India and Ireland, resulting in the production and screening of collaborative cinematic works," he told Kurdistan24.

Such partnerships add an international dimension to the directorate's efforts, creating opportunities for cultural exchange alongside the weekly promotion of Kurdish films.

After four years and nearly 200 screenings, the "Cinema and the Public" project has developed into a sustained cultural program rather than a temporary event.

Its combination of free access, regular programming and cooperation with filmmakers has helped create a consistent audience for Kurdish cinema in Erbil.

For the directorate, the strong attendance demonstrates that public interest in Kurdish film remains significant when audiences are given regular and accessible opportunities to watch it.