Description
The relationship between the development of national cinemas and film festivals has been discussed by scholars (Chan, 2011; Czach, 2004). However, these studies largely focus on national cinemas within the context of established nation-states. In contrast, Kurdish cinema, marked by statelessness, has sought cultural legitimacy through film festivals held in the diaspora. Due to their statelessness, Kurdish filmmakers have experienced limited funding and infrastructure. To counter these challenges, Kurdish communities have created Kurdish film festivals as their own representational platforms, serving as spaces for identity and activism (De Valck, 2016a). This research investigates the emergence of Kurdish film festivals as a response to the quest for cultural legitimacy (Bourdieu, 1984, 1993; De Valck, 2016b). The study centers on the Berlin Kurdish Film Festival (BKFF) and mîtosfîlm, a Kurdish-German film production company, exploring their dual roles in curating and producing cinema with artistic, economic, and activist objectives. The study aims to answer how BKFF and mîtosfîlm contribute to building and promoting Kurdish cinema. Archival research at the Deutsche Kinemathek, program analysis of BKFF, interviews with the festival team, and participant observation during the 2022 and 2024 editions inform the study.
