Story Telling: The Future Of Kurdish Cinema (Cannes Vlog)

Storytelling matters. It shapes how people see countries, cultures, and entire generations. As a creator, it’s something I’ve always been passionate about. Whether through my videos, music, Kurd Talks, or documentaries, I’ve always tried to help people better understand Kurdistan through storytelling. This year, I was invited to Cannes Film Festival to follow the Kurdistan Film Commission and learn more about their vision for the future of Kurdish cinema. What I found was much bigger than I expected. From the launch of the Kurdistan Film Fund to meetings with international producers, filmmakers, writers and creatives, this wasn’t just about making films. It was about creating opportunities. Opportunities for Kurdish talent, for local productions, for jobs, for investment, and for Kurdish stories to reach audiences around the world. One of the most inspiring parts of the trip was seeing local writers and filmmakers presenting their ideas to international industry professionals. It reminded me that the talent has always existed in Kurdistan. Sometimes all that’s missing is the opportunity. As Kurds, recognition and identity are things we often discuss through politics. But culture, cinema and storytelling can sometimes achieve things that politics cannot. A powerful film can introduce millions of people to our people, our landscapes, our culture and our stories. I left Cannes feeling proud. Proud of the people representing us. Proud of the young talent I met. Proud of the ambition behind this project. And hopeful that one day we’ll return not just to talk about the future of Kurdish cinema, but to watch Kurdish films premiere on one of the biggest stages in the world. Subscribe to @iamhaks on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X. Follow @kurdistan.film on Instagram