The first edition of the Slemani International Film Festival was held on 1-4 October 2016 in Sulaymaniyah province, Iraqi Kurdistan. The festival with a focus on ‘identity’ screened 50 feature and short films by directors from more than 30 countries, including Iran, France, Turkey, Finland, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Palestine, Brazil, Greece, Canada, Argentina, China, US, Sweden, Slovenia, Ireland, Iraq, Russia, Spain, Japan, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Portugal, India and Kurdistan.
‘Memories of the Black Horse’ by Iranian filmmamker Shahram Alidi won Special Jury Award in Kurdish Cinema. Diploma of Honor for Best Director of Photography went to Amin Jafari for ‘Drum’ directed by Keivan Karimi from Iran.
‘Farewell Analog’ by Iranian filmmaker Hiva Aminnejad won the Diploma of Honor for Special Jury Award of the Kurdish Cinema section.
In the short film section, Kamal Parnak won Best Director Award for ‘Hasti’. Special Jury Award of the Kurdish Cinema section went to ‘Pale Mirrors’ by Salem Salavati. Best Film Award was granted to ‘The White House’ by Arastou Mafakheri. Diploma of Honor for the Best Short Film went to Iran-Germany-Iraqi Kurdistan joint production ‘Oxygen in Exchange for Blood’.
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