The 2nd Slemani International Film Festival is held this year with the motto “Culture of Co-existence”, after the first one of last year which featured 55 movies from 24 countries.

176 movies from 106 countries will be displayed in the 2nd International Film Festival that has kicked off in Slemani and will continue until October 7th.

The festival bringing the alternative and protest character of cinema into the forefront will host various workshops, seminars and panels.

During the festival also awards are conferred on prominent Kurdish individuals in arts, politics, culture, literature, cinema and many other categories.

This year’s ‘Ahmet Kaya Award’ has been dedicated to Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş for his tireless efforts for peace and his democratic political stand.

As Demirtaş is imprisoned by the Turkish state, the award was received by HDP deputy co-chair Nadir Yıldırım from PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) Politburo member Mele Bextiyar.