Kurdish cinema: directors, themes and film words
A short guide to Kurdish cinema, its directors and themes, with film words to learn.
Kurdish cinema is young, small and strong. Because Kurds live in several countries, filmmakers have often worked with limited money, shot in remote places and told stories about borders, childhood, exile and daily life. This guide introduces what makes Kurdish cinema special, a few directors worth knowing and the film words you can learn in Kurdish.
What is Kurdish cinema?
The term covers films made by Kurdish directors, films in a Kurdish language, and films about Kurdish life. These are not always the same thing: some well-known directors made films in Turkish or Persian, others work in Kurmancî or Soranî. The common thread is the voice: people, landscapes and memories that are rarely seen on screen.
Recurring themes
- Borders and journeys: roads, checkpoints, smugglers and families moving across mountains.
- Childhood: children carry many stories, often with humour and quiet courage.
- Exile and return: life in Europe, the longing for home, language kept alive in the kitchen.
- Landscape and tradition: villages, music, weddings and the seasons.
Directors to know
Yılmaz Güney (1937–1984) was an actor, writer and director whose film Yol won the top prize at a major European film festival in 1982. He is remembered as a pioneer.
Bahman Ghobadi made A Time for Drunken Horses (2000) and Turtles Can Fly (2004), among the first widely shown feature films in Kurdish. Both follow children and are set in the mountains.
Hiner Saleem, a director from Iraqi Kurdistan who lives in France, made films such as Vodka Lemon (2003), mixing comedy and sadness.
Today a new generation of directors, producers and actors works in short films, series and documentaries, and many films are now available online.
Film and theatre words in Kurdish
| Kurmancî | Soranî | English |
|---|---|---|
| lîstikvan | ئەکتەر | actor |
| hunermend | هونەرمەند | artist |
| temaşevan | بینەر | audience |
| çîrok | چیرۆک | story |
| muzîk | مۆسیقا | music |
And two sentences from the lessons you can use after a film or play:
| Kurmancî | Soranî | English |
|---|---|---|
| Şanoyê bi dilxweşî temaşe kirim | شانۆیەکم بە دڵخۆشی سەیر کرد | I watched the play with joy |
| Lîstikvanê navdar | ئەکتەرێکی ناودار | A famous actor |
How to watch to learn
Film is an excellent teacher. Start with a short film or a children’s story, watch it once for the plot and again to catch phrases. Pause when you hear a greeting or a question and try to repeat it. Your ear will start recognising the rhythm of Kurmancî or Soranî much faster than from a textbook.
Choose subtitles in a language you know, then try again with Kurdish subtitles when you can read the script.
Pair this with a few minutes of lessons a day and the next film you watch will feel clearer. See how to say hello in Kurdish or the guide to the Kurdish alphabet to read the subtitles. ZimanGo also teaches film and stage words along with everyday vocabulary.
Questions people ask
What is Kurdish cinema?
Films made by Kurdish directors, in a Kurdish language or about Kurdish life. It is a small but growing field.
How do you say actor in Kurdish?
Lîstikvan in Kurmancî and ئەکتەر in Soranî.
