Slemani Film Festival: International? Prove It

Slemani International Film Festival Sep 2026 — Slemani International Film Festival, Sulaimani city, Iraqi Kurdistan, September 15, 2026. Photo: channel8.com

Slemani Film Festival: Where Is the International Standard?

Ahmed Mahmoud Amin | Exclusive to iKurd.net
Translated by iKurd.net from Kurdish Westganews

Slemani International Film Festival and Some Comments: The Name or the Standards?

Since the festival was first established, I have been involved as an advisor, seriously supporting its various areas and serving as a member of the jury, with genuine dedication, because it carries the name of Slemani.

Therefore, this piece is not about any individual. It is about a question: Is the level of the festival equal to the name and history of Slemani?

An international film festival does not become “international” simply by being called international; it becomes international by meeting certain standards. Let us look at what those standards are.

At a serious festival, films should be selected according to clear criteria by a professional team, not through relationships or personal connections.

The jury should be knowledgeable and independent in the field of cinema, with strong experience and a good reputation. Its international character should also be genuinely evident in the types of films, the countries represented, and the caliber of its guests.

But before all of this, there is a fundamental question: Where does the festival’s budget come from, and what is its financial structure?

An international festival needs a budget secured in advance, a clear financial plan, and an established institutional foundation, for guests, films, awards, venues and technical needs, media, hospitality, transportation, and the infrastructure needed to run the festival.

The organizers should not wait until the festival is approaching to start looking for large and small companies to raise funds and build the festival’s budget.

If a private institution or film production company owns the festival, then the question is: Does the festival have an independent, long-term financial and institutional structure, or does it start from scratch every year to find funding and support?

This is the difference between an established festival and an annual project.

At serious festivals, the budget is not only for holding the event; it is part of a long-term development plan. Venice, Cannes, and Sundance each rely on institutions, partnerships, sponsors, and established management systems, rather than simply looking for funding as the festival approaches.

At Venice, the main jury is made up of international filmmakers and film professionals, and the competition is organized according to an established system. At Cannes, the “Palme d’Or” has become part of the festival’s identity, while at Sundance, some awards come with meaningful financial support.

An award should not simply be something handed out on a stage; it should represent genuine artistic recognition and real value. If possible, it should also provide practical and financial support for the filmmaker.

Likewise, a festival should not become weaker from one year to the next. Each edition should be stronger, more professional, and more firmly established.

If every edition repeats the same process, the same problems, and the same financial and organizational methods, then where is the festival’s growth and development? Forgive me for making these comparisons, but I am doing so because we are talking about being an international festival!!!

In the end, a festival that carries the name of Slemani is not merely a private project; it also carries the name of a cultural city and the capital of intellectual and cultural life.

Therefore, it needs the support of cultural institutions, the government, filmmakers, the media, and the private sector in a way that gives the festival a stable financial and institutional foundation.

My question is simple:

Do we only want a festival that takes place every year, or do we want a festival that raises the cinematic level of Slemani every year?

The name Slemani on a festival is not merely a title; it is a responsibility.

This article was originally published in the Kurdish language in Westganews on September 17, 2026.

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of iKurd.net or its editorial team.