At a Glance:

• A Kurdish short film has been selected for an American film festival.
• The film will have its world premiere later this month.
• The festival is considered one of the most prestigious in the US.

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A Kurdish short film has been selected to premiere at one of the United States' most prominent film festivals, marking a notable moment for Kurdish cinema on the international stage.

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Key Statements and Focus Area:

• "The City Under the Tangerine Tree" is a 15-minute drama produced in 2026, written, directed, and edited by Amir Gholami and co-produced with Danar Omar.
• The Kurdistan Regional Government supported the production of the film. Stak Film is handling its international distribution, and the Nashville screening marks its world premiere.

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The Nashville Film Festival, running September 24–30, is an Oscar-qualifying event where winners in the short film, documentary, and animation categories advance to Academy Awards consideration. This year drew 3,800 submissions from 100 countries, with only 150 films selected.

The film's inclusion at Nashville is being seen as a notable step for Kurdish cinema's visibility on the international festival circuit, with Amir Gholami telling Channel8's culture desk about the significance of bringing the project before an American audience for the first time.

FYI

Academy-qualifying festivals like Nashville, founded in 1969 and among the oldest in the US, allow winning entries in select categories to move directly into the preliminary rounds of Oscar consideration, making them highly competitive platforms for independent filmmakers.

Kurdish cinema has steadily gained international exposure in recent years, often with backing from regional government bodies aiming to support Kurdish stories on the global stage.

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