Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani made a significant diplomatic breakthrough at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where he officially unveiled the Kurdistan Film Commission–Slemani. Talabani’s initiative aims to showcase the region’s rich cultural heritage, attract international productions, and establish a dedicated fund to support Kurdish filmmaking, representing his vision to transform Kurdistan’s global image.
Talabani’s Vision for Kurdish Cinema
“Kurdistan is a land of untold stories, from the tragic stories of Anfal to the amazing stories of struggle and resistance. The beautiful, meaningful and fascinating stories the world longs to hear and see,” Talabani declared during his presentation at the prestigious festival. KRI Deputy Prime Minister explained that he has “been working with experts to establish a cinematic centre” for some time, culminating in this landmark announcement.
Talabani emphasized that his commission, based in Slemani (also known as Sulaymaniyah or “Suli“), seeks to “put Kurdistan on the map of world cinema and become a bridge between Kurdistan and international film production companies.” For him, this represents a personal mission to diversify perceptions of his homeland.
“When hearing the word Kurdistan, a lot of people will think about war or think about devastation, migration and refugees,” Talabani told the Cannes audience. “But I’m here to tell you that there’s another side to Kurdistan, an exciting side. It’s an opportunity for us to diversify what Kurdistan is. It’s not just about politics, it’s not just about oil.”
Talabani’s Strategic Cultural Initiative
Under Talabani’s leadership, the film commission has multiple strategic objectives: attracting international productions to Kurdistan, creating opportunities for local talent in global projects, and developing professional skills through specialized training programs.
Talabani also announced the creation of a dedicated film fund to support Kurdish cinema production. “We are delighted to announce the creation of a dedicated film fund to support the production of Kurdish films,” he stated, adding that discussions with producers at Cannes had been “met with great enthusiasm.”
Working alongside Bavi Yassin, founder and chair of the film commission, Talabani’s backing provided crucial political support for a project that had been in development for a decade. Despite past regional challenges including the proximity of ISIS in 2014, the Deputy Prime Minister’s commitment never wavered.
Talabani’s Diplomatic Achievement
For Talabani, the commission’s presence at Cannes represented not just a cultural milestone but a significant diplomatic achievement. He shared an emotional anecdote with the audience that revealed the deeper meaning behind the initiative.
“When I saw the film commission booth, I couldn’t have been more proud,” Talabani told attendees. “I remember when I first started working in politics, and we were meeting at the UN, they didn’t really let us into the building. Eventually, they took us on a tour, and I saw all these flags, hundreds of flags of hundreds of countries. I was looking for my flag, and it wasn’t there.”
Through this cultural initiative, Talabani has created a new platform for Kurdish representation on the global stage. The commission has already garnered positive reception from industry professionals, with Kurdish-Swedish actor Kardo Razzazi noting the emotional significance of Talabani’s work, which “will allow Kurdish stories, which have been underrepresented on the global stage, to be told.”
