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.
A Yazidi survivor of ISIS’s genocide recounts her experiences during nearly three years of captivity and strives to come to terms with her trauma while forging a new path for herself and her children in Canada.
About the Filmmaker:
Halime Akturk is a Kurdish-Canadian documentary filmmaker and independent producer. In 2023, she was awarded the Toronto Arts Foundation Newcomer Award for her documentary work. Halime, an award-winning journalist from Turkey, has received grants from institutions such as the Canada Council for the Arts for her documentary projects through which she attempts to center stories of women, Kurds, and minorities.
- Year2023
- Runtime14 mins
- LanguageKurdish, English
- CountryCanada
- GenreDocumentary
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorHalime Akturk
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.
A Yazidi survivor of ISIS’s genocide recounts her experiences during nearly three years of captivity and strives to come to terms with her trauma while forging a new path for herself and her children in Canada.
About the Filmmaker:
Halime Akturk is a Kurdish-Canadian documentary filmmaker and independent producer. In 2023, she was awarded the Toronto Arts Foundation Newcomer Award for her documentary work. Halime, an award-winning journalist from Turkey, has received grants from institutions such as the Canada Council for the Arts for her documentary projects through which she attempts to center stories of women, Kurds, and minorities.
- Year2023
- Runtime14 mins
- LanguageKurdish, English
- CountryCanada
- GenreDocumentary
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorHalime Akturk