Cannes Film Festival screens 'Peshmerga' documentary

CANNES, France (Kurdistan24) – “Peshmerga” is a documentary about Kurdish freedom fighters directed by French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy and is included in the 2016 Cannes Film Festival official selection. In a press release, the organizers explained the last-minute addition, “This film, which we have just discovered, offers a close-up look at the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.” The topical and insightful story portrays the sacrifices of the unknown individuals in the military forces in the Kurdistan Region, who are fighting the Islamic State (IS) extremists. Levy said in a statement on Monday that he traveled 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) along the Iraqi border to film battles, landscapes and the faces of men and women who rarely show themselves. Ala Hoshyiar, one of the main camerapersons of Levy's crew, told Kurdistan24 that the heart of the great battles is the Kirkuk areas of Mosul and Sinjar (Shingal). “The movie that started in May 2015 recorded Peshmerga's activities indiscriminately across the border,” he explained. Hoshyiar was severely injured during the recording of the film but did not stop working. The 92-minute picture will be screened at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20, in the Salle Bazin. “If demand is high, another screening will possibly be added on Saturday,” organizers said. The Kurdish Peshmerga have been the most efficient ground forces battling IS on behalf of the world. Many Peshmerga commanders continue to call on further support from the international community in the form of weapons and ammunition. These humble and noble men and women fighters in Kurdistan are suppressing the same group that claimed attacks in Paris, Brussels, and California.

Reporting by Ava Homa

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany