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.
In 2017, a group of women set out to create an all-women village in North-East Syria (Rojava). They built it using traditional materials and techniques. Once completed, Jinwar welcomed women refugees from male violence. By participating in the common life, based on agriculture and handicrafts, women villagers forge new identities and build better lives for themselves. At the same time they create a new world. Narrated by Rûmet Heval.
About the Filmmaker:
Nadia Derwiş was born in 1996 in Hasaka, Syria. She studied chemistry at Al Furat University in Deir ez-Zor but dropped out due to the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. She returned to Hasaka and in 2015 started working in cinema at the Komina Film a Rojava. She served as assistant director in many feature films. Currently she is preparing to direct a fiction feature film with Komina Film a Rojava. The documentary Jinwar is her first feature-length film.
- Year2024
- Runtime41 minutes
- LanguageKurdish, Arabic
- CountryRojava (West Kurdistan), Syrian Arab Republic
- GenreDocumentary
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorNadia Derwiş
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.
In 2017, a group of women set out to create an all-women village in North-East Syria (Rojava). They built it using traditional materials and techniques. Once completed, Jinwar welcomed women refugees from male violence. By participating in the common life, based on agriculture and handicrafts, women villagers forge new identities and build better lives for themselves. At the same time they create a new world. Narrated by Rûmet Heval.
About the Filmmaker:
Nadia Derwiş was born in 1996 in Hasaka, Syria. She studied chemistry at Al Furat University in Deir ez-Zor but dropped out due to the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. She returned to Hasaka and in 2015 started working in cinema at the Komina Film a Rojava. She served as assistant director in many feature films. Currently she is preparing to direct a fiction feature film with Komina Film a Rojava. The documentary Jinwar is her first feature-length film.
- Year2024
- Runtime41 minutes
- LanguageKurdish, Arabic
- CountryRojava (West Kurdistan), Syrian Arab Republic
- GenreDocumentary
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorNadia Derwiş