- ANF
- NEWS DESK
- Sunday, 20 September 2026, 08:33
Kurdish filmmakers living in Europe gathered at a workshop in Charleroi, Belgium, to discuss the challenges Kurdish cinema faces in various areas, from production and distribution to festivals and education, and to develop common solutions.
The three-day gathering, attended by around 50 filmmakers, includes directors, screenwriters, producers, actors, cinematographers, editors, and festival organizers.
Explaining the purpose of the workshop, the organizers said: “We want to make films, write screenplays, organize festivals, and distribute films. We face different problems in each area of work. We are holding this workshop to solve these problems.”
Kurdish filmmakers came together at the Çanda Med Cultural Center on September 18. At the reception held on the first day of the gathering, the filmmakers introduced themselves and their work. Filmmakers working in different countries and in different areas thus had the opportunity to get to know one another and share their experiences.
Joint discussion in four areas
Following the introductions, the filmmakers divided into four working groups. The groups were organized around the themes of distribution and festivals, production and financing, education and development, and international solidarity. Each filmmaker joined one of the groups according to their area of work and interest.
The aim of the groups is not merely to list problems, but also to assess the current state of Kurdish cinema in Europe and develop solutions to the challenges being encountered.
The distribution and festivals group is addressing issues including bringing films to audiences, developing festivals, and opportunities for the circulation of Kurdish films. The production and financing group is discussing the economic and structural problems facing film production. The education and development group is focusing on training filmmakers and transferring experience, while the international solidarity group is considering opportunities for partnerships and solidarity among filmmakers in Europe.
Identifying problems, discussing solutions
The working groups held their first meetings on the evening of September 18. The groups will meet again today to deepen the discussions. Each group will assess the current situation in its respective area and identify existing problems, after which they will prepare proposals and possible solutions to address them.
In this way, the workshop is becoming more than simply a gathering of Kurdish filmmakers living in different countries; it is creating a forum in which the problems experienced across different areas of cinema are brought together for collective discussion.
The assessments, proposals, and solutions prepared by the working groups will be presented to all the filmmakers at the workshop meeting on September 20.
Following the discussions conducted over three days, the proposals that emerge are intended to strengthen relations among Kurdish filmmakers in Europe, develop opportunities for joint production and solidarity, and create common responses to the problems Kurdish cinema faces in different areas, from production to festivals and from education to distribution.
