Gündoðdu tells of the London Kurdish Film Festival
Gündoðdu tells of the London Kurdish Film Festival
Mustafa Gündoðdu, being one of the organizers, has been the 'heart' and 'soul' of the London Kurdish Film Festival. The festival has started last night and will continue until 27 November.
In this long interview Mustafa Gündoðdu tells about the festival, Kurdish cinema and the importance of festivals in promoting it.
- Seven years of Kurdish London Film Festival, what has changed, how it has grown ?
Well!! A lot has changed. When we first started in 2001 we were not in a position to think this will go on for 10 years. This year we are celebrating our 10th year with 7th festival. it became much bigger than what we have imagined at first. We became front runner of the all the festivals, inspired other Kurdish film festivals. We learned alot, the programme became diverse and richer, we have created very good and established network on the ground with the Kurdish filmmakers, producers. And i think deservedly we have a good reputation and name. But this is not the top point of what we can reach. We can do alot more, be more organise, make more space for the Kurdish cinema. - It is accepted everywhere that indeed we can now speak of a Kurdish cinema, with its own characteristics, themes, features. How important have been festivals around the world in the promotion and definition of Kurdish cinema ?
festivals plays very vita role in promoting the films. First of all many of the films which would have chance to hit the screens are able to hit the screens in the west thanks to the festivals. Festivals help to create recognition that there is a movement called Kurdish cinema and it vcan be programmed and screened as a professional festival. not only the kurds, those who wants to promote something about the immigration, migration, Kurds and others have realised that actually there is this cinema because there are these festivals. If these filsm are screened at a festival then must be considered. Its kind of interrelated process. We can make festivals because there are enough films to make festivals.
It did also help to find definition for the Kurdish cinema. Many countries and festivals included Kurdish cinema into their programmes as emerging cinema, political cinema, cinema of migration. Cinema for struggle, cinema for peace etc. these are all represent the definition of the Kurdish cinema and its productions. For example for me Kurdish cinema is the top political cinema in the world at the moment. When we realise how little we make films related with the political issues about the world we are in then you can find a political messages in almost every single Kurdish film.
Getting a film released in a cinema is difficult job but organising a film festival to get films to be screen is something possible . and you don’t have to convince cinema owner or programmers that this film work. Therefore festivals are great opportunity for the promotion.
- How difficult is it for a festival like this to be organised ? (funding problems, etc)
Very difficult. Current economic crisis in Europe mostly hit the art sector. There is almost no funding for such activities probably because saving a bank is more important than art for liberal and right wing government. In the last couple of years we organise our festival only through private sponsors. The biggest obstacle for the festivals are as always is the funding. Then it is important to have a team that can work together, talk about same thing, on same page and mind connected. We also have to deal wit the changing conditions with the venue owners. Its gets difficult but somehow we manage to do it but i don’t know for how long.
- Do you think Kurdish films have an appropriate distribution in Europe ?
Not much. Few renown directors has no difficulties to get release but in general is very minimal distribution. This is because we do not have many Kurdish distribution companies based in Europe. One of the few is Mitos film in Germany but their business capacity is limited too. Festivals can help to increase this by promoting films in Europe and get some to be picked up by the distributors based in Europe.
- What are the highlights of this year festival ?
This year's festival will again present an extraordinary variety of films by Kurdish film makers or about Kurdish issues: features, documentaries, shorts and animated films from all over the world. This year’s programme includes 18 feature films, 29 documentaries and 55 short films, 20 of which will be competing in the 3rd Yýlmaz Güney Short Film Competition. The competition honours the great Kurdish director Yilmaz Güney who lived out his final days in exile in Paris after escaping prosecution from the Turkish government for his political views.
The ten-day festival promises to be packed with exciting, challenging and occasionally controversial movies. There will be discussions with film makers, actors and actress following screenings. The festival will be opening its curtains with a new feature film called IF YOU DIE I WILL KILL YOU by renowned Kurdish Director Hiner Saleem. Other highlights will include: multi award winning PRESS by Sedat Yýlmaz, about a journalist working in the Amed (Diyarbakýr) office of the Özgür Gündem newspaper. LOST FREEDOM by Umur Hozatlý, and WENDA (MISSING) will also be screened, while powerful films from South Kurdistan include KICK OFF by Shawkat Amin Korki, MANDOO by Ebrahim Saeedi, THE NIGHT OF JUDGEMENT by Hussain Sewdin, QANDIL MOUNTAINS by Taha Karimi and THE QUARTER OF SCARECROWS by Hassan Ali.
We are also very happy to have three feature films from East Kurdistan (Iran) including THEY LIKE NOBODY, EYE and SUNLIGHT BEHIND THE SNOW. The programme also includes EXILE IN PARIS by Zirek, TANGLED UP IN BLUE by Haider Rashid and FLOWERS OF KIRKUK by Fariborz Kamkari, all made by Kurdish directors based in Europe. The young Kurdish director Shiar Abdi’s first feature film MEÞ (WALKING) hit the headlines in Turkey when it was shown at Antalya’s International Golden Orange Film Festival. Following the screening, nationalist audience members criticized the scene where the main actor slaps a Turkish Army Officer, protesting that such things should never be displayed, even in a film. We are also extremely delighted to host the word premier of the UK-based Kurdish director Haco Cheko’s first feature length docu-fiction LI VIR (NOW HERE).
The documentary programme this year includes 29 films covering a range of issues. Some of the highlights in the documentary programme are THE FIRST MOVIE by Irish director Mark Cousins, and Ebrahim Saaedi and Zahavi Sanjavi’s multi award winning documentary ALL MY MOTHERS, Akram Hidou’s powerful documentary HALABJA, LOST CHILDREN, Azad Kerkuki’s documentary FREEDOM SEEKING KURDS, Sweden-based Zanyar Adami and David Herdies’s THE GUERILLA SON, Aydýn Orak’s BERÝVAN, Sattar Chamani Gol’s THE NECTAR OF STONES and Hooshang Mirzae’s I DANCE WITH GOD.
The festival will also showcase many award winning short films including Karzan Kader’s BEKAS, winner of the silver medal in the foreign student category at the Student Academy Awards, and Binevsa Berivan’s newly released short SIDEWALK featuring Kurdish actor Nazmi Kirik.
The festival is sponsored by the Kurdistan Regional Government UK Representation, Levenes Solicitors, Dalya Mobile, IKB Travel, B plan, Ulus&Co, Mufid&Co, Magnolia Banqueting Suite and Westway Trust alongside many other local business owners and Kurdish community centres in the UK.
The full festival programme available in English and Kurdish at www.lkff.co.uk
In this long interview Mustafa Gündoðdu tells about the festival, Kurdish cinema and the importance of festivals in promoting it.
- Seven years of Kurdish London Film Festival, what has changed, how it has grown ?
Well!! A lot has changed. When we first started in 2001 we were not in a position to think this will go on for 10 years. This year we are celebrating our 10th year with 7th festival. it became much bigger than what we have imagined at first. We became front runner of the all the festivals, inspired other Kurdish film festivals. We learned alot, the programme became diverse and richer, we have created very good and established network on the ground with the Kurdish filmmakers, producers. And i think deservedly we have a good reputation and name. But this is not the top point of what we can reach. We can do alot more, be more organise, make more space for the Kurdish cinema. - It is accepted everywhere that indeed we can now speak of a Kurdish cinema, with its own characteristics, themes, features. How important have been festivals around the world in the promotion and definition of Kurdish cinema ?
festivals plays very vita role in promoting the films. First of all many of the films which would have chance to hit the screens are able to hit the screens in the west thanks to the festivals. Festivals help to create recognition that there is a movement called Kurdish cinema and it vcan be programmed and screened as a professional festival. not only the kurds, those who wants to promote something about the immigration, migration, Kurds and others have realised that actually there is this cinema because there are these festivals. If these filsm are screened at a festival then must be considered. Its kind of interrelated process. We can make festivals because there are enough films to make festivals.
It did also help to find definition for the Kurdish cinema. Many countries and festivals included Kurdish cinema into their programmes as emerging cinema, political cinema, cinema of migration. Cinema for struggle, cinema for peace etc. these are all represent the definition of the Kurdish cinema and its productions. For example for me Kurdish cinema is the top political cinema in the world at the moment. When we realise how little we make films related with the political issues about the world we are in then you can find a political messages in almost every single Kurdish film.
Getting a film released in a cinema is difficult job but organising a film festival to get films to be screen is something possible . and you don’t have to convince cinema owner or programmers that this film work. Therefore festivals are great opportunity for the promotion.
- How difficult is it for a festival like this to be organised ? (funding problems, etc)
Very difficult. Current economic crisis in Europe mostly hit the art sector. There is almost no funding for such activities probably because saving a bank is more important than art for liberal and right wing government. In the last couple of years we organise our festival only through private sponsors. The biggest obstacle for the festivals are as always is the funding. Then it is important to have a team that can work together, talk about same thing, on same page and mind connected. We also have to deal wit the changing conditions with the venue owners. Its gets difficult but somehow we manage to do it but i don’t know for how long.
- Do you think Kurdish films have an appropriate distribution in Europe ?
Not much. Few renown directors has no difficulties to get release but in general is very minimal distribution. This is because we do not have many Kurdish distribution companies based in Europe. One of the few is Mitos film in Germany but their business capacity is limited too. Festivals can help to increase this by promoting films in Europe and get some to be picked up by the distributors based in Europe.
- What are the highlights of this year festival ?
This year's festival will again present an extraordinary variety of films by Kurdish film makers or about Kurdish issues: features, documentaries, shorts and animated films from all over the world. This year’s programme includes 18 feature films, 29 documentaries and 55 short films, 20 of which will be competing in the 3rd Yýlmaz Güney Short Film Competition. The competition honours the great Kurdish director Yilmaz Güney who lived out his final days in exile in Paris after escaping prosecution from the Turkish government for his political views.
The ten-day festival promises to be packed with exciting, challenging and occasionally controversial movies. There will be discussions with film makers, actors and actress following screenings. The festival will be opening its curtains with a new feature film called IF YOU DIE I WILL KILL YOU by renowned Kurdish Director Hiner Saleem. Other highlights will include: multi award winning PRESS by Sedat Yýlmaz, about a journalist working in the Amed (Diyarbakýr) office of the Özgür Gündem newspaper. LOST FREEDOM by Umur Hozatlý, and WENDA (MISSING) will also be screened, while powerful films from South Kurdistan include KICK OFF by Shawkat Amin Korki, MANDOO by Ebrahim Saeedi, THE NIGHT OF JUDGEMENT by Hussain Sewdin, QANDIL MOUNTAINS by Taha Karimi and THE QUARTER OF SCARECROWS by Hassan Ali.
We are also very happy to have three feature films from East Kurdistan (Iran) including THEY LIKE NOBODY, EYE and SUNLIGHT BEHIND THE SNOW. The programme also includes EXILE IN PARIS by Zirek, TANGLED UP IN BLUE by Haider Rashid and FLOWERS OF KIRKUK by Fariborz Kamkari, all made by Kurdish directors based in Europe. The young Kurdish director Shiar Abdi’s first feature film MEÞ (WALKING) hit the headlines in Turkey when it was shown at Antalya’s International Golden Orange Film Festival. Following the screening, nationalist audience members criticized the scene where the main actor slaps a Turkish Army Officer, protesting that such things should never be displayed, even in a film. We are also extremely delighted to host the word premier of the UK-based Kurdish director Haco Cheko’s first feature length docu-fiction LI VIR (NOW HERE).
The documentary programme this year includes 29 films covering a range of issues. Some of the highlights in the documentary programme are THE FIRST MOVIE by Irish director Mark Cousins, and Ebrahim Saaedi and Zahavi Sanjavi’s multi award winning documentary ALL MY MOTHERS, Akram Hidou’s powerful documentary HALABJA, LOST CHILDREN, Azad Kerkuki’s documentary FREEDOM SEEKING KURDS, Sweden-based Zanyar Adami and David Herdies’s THE GUERILLA SON, Aydýn Orak’s BERÝVAN, Sattar Chamani Gol’s THE NECTAR OF STONES and Hooshang Mirzae’s I DANCE WITH GOD.
The festival will also showcase many award winning short films including Karzan Kader’s BEKAS, winner of the silver medal in the foreign student category at the Student Academy Awards, and Binevsa Berivan’s newly released short SIDEWALK featuring Kurdish actor Nazmi Kirik.
The festival is sponsored by the Kurdistan Regional Government UK Representation, Levenes Solicitors, Dalya Mobile, IKB Travel, B plan, Ulus&Co, Mufid&Co, Magnolia Banqueting Suite and Westway Trust alongside many other local business owners and Kurdish community centres in the UK.
The full festival programme available in English and Kurdish at www.lkff.co.uk
