VOICES OF RESISTANCE AND HERITAGE: Stories of Kurdish Women and Culture celebrates the courage and resilience of Kurdish women who have fought for freedom and self-determination amidst war and revolution. It also shines a light on the rich cultural heritage of the Kurdish people, including the ancient tradition of Dengbêj and the enduring spirit of the Yezidi community. Together, these films weave a powerful narrative of resistance, leadership, and cultural preservation.
VOICES OF RESISTANCE AND HERITAGE: Stories of Kurdish Women and Culture is curated by Xeyak Qertel and is co-presented by ArteEast and The Clemente Center. This program is part of the legacy program Unpacking the ArteArchive, which preserves and presents 20 years of film and video programming by ArteEast. Selections from VOICES OF RESISTANCE AND HERITAGE will be screened in-person at The Clemente Center on March 18 followed by a discussion with Halime Akturk moderated by the curator.
On the front line of the Syrian war, 30-year-old Commander Arian guides a female battalion towards the city of Kobane to release its people from the grip of ISIS in Alba Sotorra's empowering tale of emancipation and freedom. When the war in Syria erupted, a group of women from the Kurdish resistance formed the YPJ - Women's Protection Units. Arian, who at a young age had witnessed the barbaric treatment of sexual assault victims, leads the unit and dedicates her life to defeating ISIS. As the YPJ inches closer to its target, she implores her comrades to discover the true meaning of their fight: freedom for the next generation of women. With unprecedented access to the commander and her troops, including harrowing scenes of Arian's slow recovery from multiple bullet wounds, Sotorra brilliantly crafts an enthralling portrait of a woman on a mission.
About the Director:
EAVE graduate Alba Sotorra has produced feature documentaries and fiction films for cinema and television since 2005. She graduated from cinema school in Madrid (UCM 2003) and has an MA on Cultural Studies (2008). She participated in SOURCES2 (2010), Berlinale Talent Campus (2011), Dokincubator (2014), IDFA Academy (2015) and EAVE Producers Workshop (2017). She is member of Dones Visuals. She is founder and director of the company Alba Sotorra.
- Year2018
- Runtime85 minutes
- LanguageKurdish
- CountrySpain, Germany, Syrian Arab Republic, Rojava (West Kurdistan)
- GenreDocumentary
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorAlba Sotorra
VOICES OF RESISTANCE AND HERITAGE: Stories of Kurdish Women and Culture celebrates the courage and resilience of Kurdish women who have fought for freedom and self-determination amidst war and revolution. It also shines a light on the rich cultural heritage of the Kurdish people, including the ancient tradition of Dengbêj and the enduring spirit of the Yezidi community. Together, these films weave a powerful narrative of resistance, leadership, and cultural preservation.
VOICES OF RESISTANCE AND HERITAGE: Stories of Kurdish Women and Culture is curated by Xeyak Qertel and is co-presented by ArteEast and The Clemente Center. This program is part of the legacy program Unpacking the ArteArchive, which preserves and presents 20 years of film and video programming by ArteEast. Selections from VOICES OF RESISTANCE AND HERITAGE will be screened in-person at The Clemente Center on March 18 followed by a discussion with Halime Akturk moderated by the curator.
On the front line of the Syrian war, 30-year-old Commander Arian guides a female battalion towards the city of Kobane to release its people from the grip of ISIS in Alba Sotorra's empowering tale of emancipation and freedom. When the war in Syria erupted, a group of women from the Kurdish resistance formed the YPJ - Women's Protection Units. Arian, who at a young age had witnessed the barbaric treatment of sexual assault victims, leads the unit and dedicates her life to defeating ISIS. As the YPJ inches closer to its target, she implores her comrades to discover the true meaning of their fight: freedom for the next generation of women. With unprecedented access to the commander and her troops, including harrowing scenes of Arian's slow recovery from multiple bullet wounds, Sotorra brilliantly crafts an enthralling portrait of a woman on a mission.
About the Director:
EAVE graduate Alba Sotorra has produced feature documentaries and fiction films for cinema and television since 2005. She graduated from cinema school in Madrid (UCM 2003) and has an MA on Cultural Studies (2008). She participated in SOURCES2 (2010), Berlinale Talent Campus (2011), Dokincubator (2014), IDFA Academy (2015) and EAVE Producers Workshop (2017). She is member of Dones Visuals. She is founder and director of the company Alba Sotorra.
- Year2018
- Runtime85 minutes
- LanguageKurdish
- CountrySpain, Germany, Syrian Arab Republic, Rojava (West Kurdistan)
- GenreDocumentary
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorAlba Sotorra