Kobanî International Film Festival quested to consolidate culture of resistance

Kobanî International Film Festival enters on its second day after it was launched on Tuesday in Kobanî north of Syria. What will the festival look like? Why Kobanî was chosen for it? And what does it aim at in the framework of the attack on the area by Turkey, especially in the past few weeks?

14 November, 2018 07:37

DIJLA AHMAD – ZANA SIDI / KOBANÎ

Kobanî International Film Festival, the first of its kind in North Syria, was launched on Tuesday and is being organized by "Rojava Film Commune" in which at least 80 short and long films will be presented at the Culture and Art Center in the center of Kobanî.

The member of the preparatory committee of the festival, Deniz Takushin, indicated in a statement to ANHA agency that they chose the city of Kobanî to show their films from many countries of the world in a reference that they want to draw attention to the city which decided to resist on behalf of the world in the face of darkness that was threatening every citizen living on this land.

The festival comes on the 58th anniversary of the massacre or the holocaust of Amuda Cinema, in which 250 children of the city of Amuda, north-east of Syria, lost their lives due to a fabricated fire on Shehrazad Cinema in 1960.

Deniz explained that they are seeking through the presentation of films about the resistance to create a link between the resistance that took place in the areas of North Syria, especially Afrin and Kobanî, and the peoples of the world that support this resistance.

She added, "We seek through 60 short films and about 20 films to illustrate the general image of Rojava and North Syria Revolution for the world because films have a great impact on societies. We aim to create dynamism and inspiration within societies and motivate them on the importance of carrying the spirit of resistance and have a culture of resistance in the face of all odds."

The activities of the festival began days after the Turkish bombing on the villages of Kobanî and Girê Spî cantons in which the fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were martyred, along with the girl Sara who had been shot in the head by the Turkish side.

The festival is attended by filmmakers and musicians from a number of countries in the world, while some of them, especially the jury committee consisted of six people have not been able to enter Rojava for security problems.

Most of the seven-day films will focus on "Women and Freedom," "The Spirit of Resistance," and other films about "The Resistance in Afrin".

The festival will present on Wednesday the first film at 14:00 local time. A number of films will be shown later in the evening after performances and speeches would be given on Tuesday to mark the start of the festival.

ANHA