Stories · North-east and the Kurdish question · First seen 13 November 2026 · seen in 2 updates

Rojava Film Festival Opens, Shengal Liberation Anniversary Marked

People: Leaning positive Outlets: Strongly positive

The sixth Rojava International Film Festival opened in Qamishli with hundreds of filmmakers and guests, paying tribute to victims of the 1960 Amuda cinema fire. Separately, Yazidi women's groups marked the anniversary of Shengal's liberation from ISIS, framing it as a milestone against genocide.

In detail

North Press, ANHA/Hawar and Kurdish-language social posts extensively covered the festival's opening in Qamishli, noting participation from filmmakers across the four parts of Kurdistan and abroad, and its tribute to the 283 children killed in the 1960 Amuda cinema fire, a historic local tragedy survivor Rashid Fati recounted in a North Press feature. The Yazidi Women's Union in Rojava issued a statement marking Shengal's liberation anniversary as a milestone of resistance against attempted genocide. Turkish-language Kurdish outlets also covered the festival. Coverage across Kurdish outlets was uniformly commemorative and proud, framing cultural and historical memory as central to Rojava identity.

How people are reacting

Kurdish-language public posts expressed pride and solidarity around both the festival and the Shengal anniversary, framing them as acts of cultural resilience and memory distinct from Arabic-language discourse on Syria.

Emotions: pride, remembrance

How it's framed

Cultural resilience and memory
Yazidi genocide resistance narrative

Sources

North Press Agency - Qamishli-based (AR), ANHA (Hawar) - north-east administration news agency (AR), North Press Agency (EN), Bluesky posts, YouTube comments

Over time

Update	Share of discussion	People	Outlets
14 November 2026, 01:29 UTC	3%	Leaning positive	Strongly positive
13 November 2026, 20:29 UTC	4%	Strongly positive	Leaning positive