The inaugural Chicago Kurdish Film Festival opened on Saturday at Loyola University’s Damen Cinema, marking a significant milestone for Kurdish cultural representation in the city. Organized by the Kurdish Cultural Center of Illinois (KCCI), the two-day event brings Kurdish storytelling and heritage to the forefront through cinema, with films that capture the complexities of Kurdish identity, history, and tradition.

“This festival is a historic milestone in our mission to amplify Kurdish voices,” said Bahadin Kerborani, KCCI Co-President, in his opening remarks. Co-curator and fellow KCCI Co-President Ridwan Zozani highlighted the importance of the festival for the local community, stating, “With around 3,000 Kurds in the Chicago area, we’re thrilled to celebrate our culture with our community and share it with our neighbors.”

The festival’s lineup includes a diverse selection of short films, feature-length movies, and documentaries by filmmakers from Kurdistan and the Kurdish diaspora in Europe and Canada. The KCCI emphasized that the chosen films offer an immersive look into Kurdish struggles, heritage, and resilience, providing a unique platform for Kurdish filmmakers to share their perspectives on conflict, identity, and tradition.

By hosting this event, the KCCI hopes to raise awareness of Kurdish stories and foster a deeper understanding of Kurdish culture within the broader Chicago community. The Chicago Kurdish Film Festival continues through Sunday, offering attendees an engaging cinematic experience and a window into Kurdish life and history.