Kurdish Film Festival Returns to New York for 10th Edition

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The 10th Kurdish Film Festival in New York is set to open in Manhattan on Sept. 29, featuring 30 films selected from nearly 350 submissions as the festival seeks to bring Kurdish cinema and culture to audiences in the United States and around the world.

The six-day festival will feature a diverse selection of feature films, short films, and documentaries, alongside discussions and programs designed to connect Kurdish filmmakers with audiences and New York’s wider film community.

Aram Hassan, co-director of the festival, told Kurdistan24 on Thursday that preparations had been completed for the 10th edition, emphasizing the festival’s continued efforts since 2017 to introduce Kurdish cinema and culture to international audiences.

Beyond film screenings, this year’s program will include workshops and discussions focusing on storytelling, remembrance, filmmaking, production, and the distribution of Kurdish films.

Hassan said the festival aims to create a platform for Kurdish stories and experiences through cinema while strengthening connections between Kurdish filmmakers, audiences, and the New York film community.

The Kurdish cinema industry has developed steadily in recent decades, with filmmakers across the Kurdistan Region and the wider Kurdish diaspora producing feature films, documentaries and short films that explore Kurdish history, identity, social issues and contemporary life.

Despite facing challenges including limited funding, production infrastructure and international distribution opportunities, Kurdish filmmakers have increasingly gained visibility through regional and international festivals, helping bring Kurdish stories to wider audiences and strengthening the presence of Kurdish cinema on the global film scene.

The 10th Kurdish Film Festival is scheduled to begin on Sept. 29, 2026, in Manhattan and continue for six days.