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سێ‌یه‌م فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر/به‌ریتانیا

20-24/9/ 2008

پڕۆگرامی نمایشکردنی فیلمه‌کانی فیستیڤاڵ

Third Manchester Kurdish Film Festival

20^th - 24^thSeptember 2008

FESTIVAL SCREENING PROGRAM

The Manchester Kurdish Film Festival, previously known as Zamawhand, returns in September for five intensive days of screenings, seminars, and special events. Created in 2005 to provide a space wherein members of the region’s Kurdish community could come together to celebrate their native culture and introduce it to a wider audience, the festival has since expanded to include a mixture of international work, from throughout the Kurdish Diaspora, and locally-produced work by Kurdish refugees based in the North West Region, many of them making their debut as filmmakers.

This year’s festival will take place at Odeon Cenima Printworks and the Contact theatre in Manchester, and will include 57 short films, 6 features, 14 documentaries, and Q&A sessions and filmmaking workshops with feature film directors.

festival will begin on Saturday 20 September 2008 at 3pm with an opening gala including a Kurdish music concert led by “Lost Melody Music Group”, traditional Kurdish food, a strong media presence, and the Head of the Cinema Department of the Kurdistan Regional Government will hopefully be attending also.

This will be a competitive festival, with prizes for best short film, director, director of photography, male actor and female actor. The films selected will then form the basis of a programme of Kurdish film and music which will be touring the North West region during November and December.

A new addition to the Festival this year will be a series of script development workshops with feature film directors. Five of which will be selected to be developed into finished screenplays, and from there into films to be screened at the festival in 2009. It is our intention to set up a mentoring system, whereby up-and-coming filmmakers can look to those already established in the industry for advice and support.

Saturday 20^th September 2008 Contact Theatre from 2:00pm – 10:00pm

Sunday 21^st September 2008 Contact Theatre from 2:00pm – 10:00pm

Monday 22^nd September 2008 Odeon Cinema from 4:00pm – 10:00pm

Tuesday 23^rd September 2008 Contact Theatre from 2:00pm – 10:00pm

Wednesday 24^th September 2008 Contact Theatre from 2:00pm – 10;00pm

Every 1 Hour and 30 minutes will be 30 minutes break

MKFF08 is funded by AGMA, KRG, Northwest Vision Media, Arts Council England, MUFID & CO, IOM and Greater Manchester Police.

Supported by Odeon cinema & Contact Theatre

For further information, contact Festival Director Alan Amin, The Kurdish Creative Film Centre, Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester, M4 1LE, kcfcfilm@yahoo.co.uk 0044(0)7916288095.

سێ‌یه‌م فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر/به‌ریتانیا

له‌ پێناو به‌ره‌وپێش بردنی پیشه‌سازی فیلمی کوردی و لێك نزیكکردنه‌وه‌ی تواناکان، ناوه‌ندی داهێنانی فیلمی کوردی سێ‌یه‌مین فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر ساز ده‌کات، بۆ ئاشناکردنی شارستانی‌یه‌تی کوردی به‌ شارستانی‌یه‌تی نه‌ته‌وه‌کانی تر و دروستکردنی پلاتفۆڕمێك بۆ فیلم سازانی کورد که‌ نمایشی کاره‌کانیانی تیا بکه‌ن.

سێ‌یه‌مین فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر بۆ ماوه‌ی 5 ڕۆژ و له‌ دووسینه‌مای پڕۆفیشیۆناڵی شاری مانچسته‌ر له‌ به‌رواری 20-24/9/2008 نمایشه‌کانی ساز ده‌کات، ئه‌و سینه‌مایانه‌ش ئۆدیۆن سینه‌ما و کۆنتاکت ثی‌یه‌ته‌ر

له‌م فیستیڤاڵه‌دا 57 کورته‌ فیلم، 6 فیلمی سینه‌مایی درێژ، 14 فیلمی دۆکومێنتاری نمایش ده‌کرێت، له‌ گه‌ڵ سازدانی 5 ڕۆژ ۆرکشۆپ ده‌رباره‌ی فیلم سازی بۆ فیلم کارانی کورد له‌ ووڵاتی به‌ریتانیا بۆ گه‌شه‌پێدانی تواناکانیان.

سازدانی کۆڕی پرسیارو وه‌ڵام له‌ لایه‌ن سینه‌ماکارانی بانگهێشت کراوه‌وه‌، ئه‌و سینه‌ماکارانه‌ی که‌ فیلمه‌کانیان له‌ فیستیڤاڵه‌که‌دا نمایش ده‌کرێن.

هه‌روه‌ها 20 کورته‌ فیلم پۆڵین کراون بۆ به‌شداری کردن له‌ پێش بڕکێی کورته‌ فیلمی فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر، که‌ له‌م 20 کورته‌ فیلمانه‌دا 5 باشترین کورته‌ فیلم ده‌ستیشان ده‌کرێت بۆ خه‌ڵات کردن له‌لایه‌ن لیژنه‌ی ناوبژیوانی شاره‌زاوه‌ بۆ باشترین فیلم، باشترین ده‌رهێنان، باشترین ئه‌کته‌ری کوڕ، باشترین ئه‌کته‌ری کچ، باشترین ته‌کنیکی هونه‌ری و هه‌روه‌ها فیلمه‌ براوه‌کان له‌ 12 شاری به‌ریتانیا نمایش ده‌کرێن.

ئه‌مانه‌و فیستیڤاڵ کاره‌کانی ده‌ست پێداکات به‌ کۆنسێرتی گۆرانی و موزیكی کوردی له‌ لایه‌ن گروپی موزیکی ئاوازی وون وه‌ به‌ میوانداری مامۆستای گۆرانی ڕه‌سه‌نی کوردی مامۆستا حه‌سه‌ن ده‌رزی وه‌ کۆتایی دێت به‌ هه‌مان شێوه‌.

کاتی نمایشه‌کانی فیستیڤاڵ به‌م شێوه‌یه‌ی خواره‌وه‌ ده‌بێت:

ڕۆژی شه‌ممه‌/ کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر 2 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و.

ڕۆژی یه‌ك شه‌ممه‌/ کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر 2 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و.

ڕۆژی دوو شه‌ممه‌/ ئۆدیۆن سینه‌ما 4 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و.

ڕۆژی سێ شه‌ممه‌/ کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر 2 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و.

ڕۆژی چوار شه‌ممه‌/ کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر 2 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و.

بۆ هه‌ر زانیاری‌یه‌ك په‌یوه‌ندی بکه‌ن به‌ به‌ڕێوه‌به‌ری فیستیڤاڵ ئالان ئه‌مین ژماره ته‌له‌فۆن‌: 00447916288095

ڕۆژانی شه‌ممه‌، سێ شه‌ممه‌‌و چوارشه‌ممه له‌ کۆنتاکت ثیه‌ته‌ر له‌ ئۆکسفۆرد ڕۆد له‌ سه‌ر هه‌مان جاده‌ی ڕه‌شۆم له‌ مانچسته‌ره‌وه‌ پێش ئه‌وه‌ی بگه‌یته‌ ڕه‌شۆم و ڕۆژانی یه‌كشه‌ممه‌ و دووشه‌ممه‌ له‌ ئۆدیۆن سینه‌ما له‌ پرینت ۆركس به‌رانبه‌ر ڤیکتۆریا تره‌ین سته‌یشن.

بۆ کڕینی تیکت ده‌تووانن ڕاسته‌وخۆ له‌ هه‌ردوو ئۆدیۆن سینه‌ما و کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر تیکت بکڕن له‌ 30/8/2008 وه‌ تیکت ئاماده‌یه‌.

هه‌روه‌ها ئه‌و که‌سانه‌ی که‌ پلانی ئاماده‌ بوونی سه‌رجه‌م فیستیڤاڵ ده‌تووانن فیستیڤاڵ پاسس بکڕن به‌ ته‌نها 40 پاوان بۆ هه‌ر پێنج ڕۆژی فیستیڤاڵ‌.

ئه‌م فیستیڤاڵه‌ هاوکاری کراوه‌ له‌ لایه‌ن:

بۆ بینینی لیستی ناوی فیلمه‌ هه‌ڵبژێردراوه‌کان بۆ نمایش له‌ سێ‌یه‌م فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر کلیکی لیستی ناوی فیلمه‌کان بکه‌

Festival 2006.

Zahmahwand 2006 will be a 2 day Kurdish Film Festival and will be presented at the Red Cinema Salford in Manchester on Saturday 30th September at 1.00pm-10.pm & Sunday 1st October 1.00pm-10.pm 2006. 40 Kurdish films and 10 short films from non Kurdish filmmaker will be screened to over 1000 people and be produced entirely by Kurdish Filmmakers. In addition to the films there will be traditional Kurdish dance, music, drama and food, workshops, seminars and discussions led by professionals from the film industry. The students who work with the Company to produce stories and short films last year will continue their work and have another opportunity to present their final work through the Kurdish Creative Film Centre (KCFC).

Zamawhand Second Kurdish Film Festival doubled the attendance of last year. Red Cinema at Salford Quays served as host venue for a weekend programme of film, art, music, dance and food, with filmmaking seminars taking place at KCFC's HQ on the Monday. An exhibition of paintings by Kurdish artists was hung in the cinema foyer, London's Shano Dance Company presented a number of traditional dances, and the Lost Melody music group (comprising Kurdish musicians currently based in various cities around the UK, and formed through the efforts of the KCFC) gave two well-received performances. The film screenings offered a mixture of international work, from throughout the Kurdish diasporas, and locally-produced work by Kurdish Asylum seekers based in the NorthWest Region, all of whom were debuting as filmmakers. Kathinka Minthe, who will be Cinematographer on KCFC's debut feature film, FOOD ONLY, presented a morning workshop on her craft. A screening of Bahman Ghobadi's award-winning feature film TURTLES CAN FLY and drinks reception was presented in association with BAFTA, and Bahman Ghobadi presented a seminar and Q&A session on the Monday. The festival was an opportunity for a dispossessed people to come together and celebrate their culture, and to share it with others. The presentation of food, music and dance, along with film made the festival more like a social event and ensured the attendance of a larger and wider audience. Zamawhand also served as a means of generating new creative activity, with both the music performance, and the 8 films made by local filmmakers all having been created through the agency of the KCFC. Seven short films screened at the festival have been selected to go on a tour of arts cinemas and venues. KCFC is currently seeking funding to develop this project.

1. Satellite. by Rahim Zebeihy
2. What For?. by Hewi Shamzini
3. My city. by Shakawan Mam Aga
4. Who is in Gail?. by Rezgar Baher
5. High Flier. by Fikri Baroji
6. Sadam's Tanks. by Farzin Karim
7. Filling. by Nasir Mostagaran

We thanks our main funders
Noorthwest Vision
Diversity Exchange Network (DXN)
Arts Council England

Festival 2005

IIn September 2005 The WTC presented ‘ZAMAHWAND’ (Celebration), a series of Kurdish short films at the Greenroom theatre.

Zahmahwand was created as a medium through which to present short films that Kurdish students produced as part of the Company’s education programme. Using short films as a way of encouraging Kurdish Asylum Seekers and refugees to integrate into British society and have the opportunity to share their experiences with others in the community.
Last year was the first short film festival and it showcased 10 films to over 200 people at the Green Room in Manchester. Along with the Films, the audience was introduced to many other Kurdish traditions including songs, dance, drama and food, non-Kurdish people from the North West were delighted and enlightened to the differences of Kurdish culture. The success of Zahmahwand Festival 2006 gave the Kurdish community a sense of empowerment and felt that they had come some way to being integrated into the multi-culture of Manchester.


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Kurdistan Regional Government AGMA Arts Council England Northwest Northwest Vision+Media UK Film Council MUFID & CO IOM Greater Manchester Police Odeon Cenima Contact theatre	سێ‌یه‌م فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر/به‌ریتانیا 20-24/9/ 2008 پڕۆگرامی نمایشکردنی فیلمه‌کانی فیستیڤاڵ Third Manchester Kurdish Film Festival 20^th - 24^thSeptember 2008 FESTIVAL SCREENING PROGRAM The Manchester Kurdish Film Festival, previously known as Zamawhand, returns in September for five intensive days of screenings, seminars, and special events. Created in 2005 to provide a space wherein members of the region’s Kurdish community could come together to celebrate their native culture and introduce it to a wider audience, the festival has since expanded to include a mixture of international work, from throughout the Kurdish Diaspora, and locally-produced work by Kurdish refugees based in the North West Region, many of them making their debut as filmmakers. This year’s festival will take place at Odeon Cenima Printworks and the Contact theatre in Manchester, and will include 57 short films, 6 features, 14 documentaries, and Q&A sessions and filmmaking workshops with feature film directors. festival will begin on Saturday 20 September 2008 at 3pm with an opening gala including a Kurdish music concert led by “Lost Melody Music Group”, traditional Kurdish food, a strong media presence, and the Head of the Cinema Department of the Kurdistan Regional Government will hopefully be attending also. This will be a competitive festival, with prizes for best short film, director, director of photography, male actor and female actor. The films selected will then form the basis of a programme of Kurdish film and music which will be touring the North West region during November and December. A new addition to the Festival this year will be a series of script development workshops with feature film directors. Five of which will be selected to be developed into finished screenplays, and from there into films to be screened at the festival in 2009. It is our intention to set up a mentoring system, whereby up-and-coming filmmakers can look to those already established in the industry for advice and support. Saturday 20^th September 2008 Contact Theatre from 2:00pm – 10:00pm Sunday 21^st September 2008 Contact Theatre from 2:00pm – 10:00pm Monday 22^nd September 2008 Odeon Cinema from 4:00pm – 10:00pm Tuesday 23^rd September 2008 Contact Theatre from 2:00pm – 10:00pm Wednesday 24^th September 2008 Contact Theatre from 2:00pm – 10;00pm Every 1 Hour and 30 minutes will be 30 minutes break MKFF08 is funded by AGMA, KRG, Northwest Vision Media, Arts Council England, MUFID & CO, IOM and Greater Manchester Police. Supported by Odeon cinema & Contact Theatre For further information, contact Festival Director Alan Amin, The Kurdish Creative Film Centre, Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester, M4 1LE, kcfcfilm@yahoo.co.uk 0044(0)7916288095. سێ‌یه‌م فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر/به‌ریتانیا له‌ پێناو به‌ره‌وپێش بردنی پیشه‌سازی فیلمی کوردی و لێك نزیكکردنه‌وه‌ی تواناکان، ناوه‌ندی داهێنانی فیلمی کوردی سێ‌یه‌مین فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر ساز ده‌کات، بۆ ئاشناکردنی شارستانی‌یه‌تی کوردی به‌ شارستانی‌یه‌تی نه‌ته‌وه‌کانی تر و دروستکردنی پلاتفۆڕمێك بۆ فیلم سازانی کورد که‌ نمایشی کاره‌کانیانی تیا بکه‌ن. سێ‌یه‌مین فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر بۆ ماوه‌ی 5 ڕۆژ و له‌ دووسینه‌مای پڕۆفیشیۆناڵی شاری مانچسته‌ر له‌ به‌رواری 20-24/9/2008 نمایشه‌کانی ساز ده‌کات، ئه‌و سینه‌مایانه‌ش ئۆدیۆن سینه‌ما و کۆنتاکت ثی‌یه‌ته‌ر له‌م فیستیڤاڵه‌دا 57 کورته‌ فیلم، 6 فیلمی سینه‌مایی درێژ، 14 فیلمی دۆکومێنتاری نمایش ده‌کرێت، له‌ گه‌ڵ سازدانی 5 ڕۆژ ۆرکشۆپ ده‌رباره‌ی فیلم سازی بۆ فیلم کارانی کورد له‌ ووڵاتی به‌ریتانیا بۆ گه‌شه‌پێدانی تواناکانیان. سازدانی کۆڕی پرسیارو وه‌ڵام له‌ لایه‌ن سینه‌ماکارانی بانگهێشت کراوه‌وه‌، ئه‌و سینه‌ماکارانه‌ی که‌ فیلمه‌کانیان له‌ فیستیڤاڵه‌که‌دا نمایش ده‌کرێن. هه‌روه‌ها 20 کورته‌ فیلم پۆڵین کراون بۆ به‌شداری کردن له‌ پێش بڕکێی کورته‌ فیلمی فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر، که‌ له‌م 20 کورته‌ فیلمانه‌دا 5 باشترین کورته‌ فیلم ده‌ستیشان ده‌کرێت بۆ خه‌ڵات کردن له‌لایه‌ن لیژنه‌ی ناوبژیوانی شاره‌زاوه‌ بۆ باشترین فیلم، باشترین ده‌رهێنان، باشترین ئه‌کته‌ری کوڕ، باشترین ئه‌کته‌ری کچ، باشترین ته‌کنیکی هونه‌ری و هه‌روه‌ها فیلمه‌ براوه‌کان له‌ 12 شاری به‌ریتانیا نمایش ده‌کرێن. ئه‌مانه‌و فیستیڤاڵ کاره‌کانی ده‌ست پێداکات به‌ کۆنسێرتی گۆرانی و موزیكی کوردی له‌ لایه‌ن گروپی موزیکی ئاوازی وون وه‌ به‌ میوانداری مامۆستای گۆرانی ڕه‌سه‌نی کوردی مامۆستا حه‌سه‌ن ده‌رزی وه‌ کۆتایی دێت به‌ هه‌مان شێوه‌. کاتی نمایشه‌کانی فیستیڤاڵ به‌م شێوه‌یه‌ی خواره‌وه‌ ده‌بێت: ڕۆژی شه‌ممه‌/ کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر 2 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و. ڕۆژی یه‌ك شه‌ممه‌/ کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر 2 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و. ڕۆژی دوو شه‌ممه‌/ ئۆدیۆن سینه‌ما 4 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و. ڕۆژی سێ شه‌ممه‌/ کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر 2 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و. ڕۆژی چوار شه‌ممه‌/ کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر 2 ی پاش نیوه‌ڕۆ تا 10 شه‌و. بۆ هه‌ر زانیاری‌یه‌ك په‌یوه‌ندی بکه‌ن به‌ به‌ڕێوه‌به‌ری فیستیڤاڵ ئالان ئه‌مین ژماره ته‌له‌فۆن‌: 00447916288095 ڕۆژانی شه‌ممه‌، سێ شه‌ممه‌‌و چوارشه‌ممه له‌ کۆنتاکت ثیه‌ته‌ر له‌ ئۆکسفۆرد ڕۆد له‌ سه‌ر هه‌مان جاده‌ی ڕه‌شۆم له‌ مانچسته‌ره‌وه‌ پێش ئه‌وه‌ی بگه‌یته‌ ڕه‌شۆم و ڕۆژانی یه‌كشه‌ممه‌ و دووشه‌ممه‌ له‌ ئۆدیۆن سینه‌ما له‌ پرینت ۆركس به‌رانبه‌ر ڤیکتۆریا تره‌ین سته‌یشن. بۆ کڕینی تیکت ده‌تووانن ڕاسته‌وخۆ له‌ هه‌ردوو ئۆدیۆن سینه‌ما و کۆنتاکت ثییه‌ته‌ر تیکت بکڕن له‌ 30/8/2008 وه‌ تیکت ئاماده‌یه‌. نرخی تیکت: 5 پاوه‌ن بۆ هه‌ر نمایشێك. 3.50پاوه‌ن 10 تا 16 ساڵ. ته‌مه‌ن خوار 10 ساڵ بێ به‌رانبه‌ره‌. هه‌روه‌ها ئه‌و که‌سانه‌ی که‌ پلانی ئاماده‌ بوونی سه‌رجه‌م فیستیڤاڵ ده‌تووانن فیستیڤاڵ پاسس بکڕن به‌ ته‌نها 40 پاوان بۆ هه‌ر پێنج ڕۆژی فیستیڤاڵ‌. ئه‌م فیستیڤاڵه‌ هاوکاری کراوه‌ له‌ لایه‌ن: شاره‌وانی مانچسته‌رAGMA ‌ حکومه‌تی هه‌رێمی کوردستان Northwest Vision & Media/UK Film Council Arts Council England کۆمپانیای موفید IOM Greater Manchester Police بۆ بینینی لیستی ناوی فیلمه‌ هه‌ڵبژێردراوه‌کان بۆ نمایش له‌ سێ‌یه‌م فیستیڤاڵی فیلمی کوردی له‌ مانچسته‌ر کلیکی لیستی ناوی فیلمه‌کان بکه‌ Festival 2006. Zahmahwand 2006 will be a 2 day Kurdish Film Festival and will be presented at the Red Cinema Salford in Manchester on Saturday 30th September at 1.00pm-10.pm & Sunday 1st October 1.00pm-10.pm 2006. 40 Kurdish films and 10 short films from non Kurdish filmmaker will be screened to over 1000 people and be produced entirely by Kurdish Filmmakers. In addition to the films there will be traditional Kurdish dance, music, drama and food, workshops, seminars and discussions led by professionals from the film industry. The students who work with the Company to produce stories and short films last year will continue their work and have another opportunity to present their final work through the Kurdish Creative Film Centre (KCFC). Festival Program Press Release Zamahwand Poster Zamahwand 2006 Film Pictures Festival 2006 Pictures Zamawhand Second Kurdish Film Festival doubled the attendance of last year. Red Cinema at Salford Quays served as host venue for a weekend programme of film, art, music, dance and food, with filmmaking seminars taking place at KCFC's HQ on the Monday. An exhibition of paintings by Kurdish artists was hung in the cinema foyer, London's Shano Dance Company presented a number of traditional dances, and the Lost Melody music group (comprising Kurdish musicians currently based in various cities around the UK, and formed through the efforts of the KCFC) gave two well-received performances. The film screenings offered a mixture of international work, from throughout the Kurdish diasporas, and locally-produced work by Kurdish Asylum seekers based in the NorthWest Region, all of whom were debuting as filmmakers. Kathinka Minthe, who will be Cinematographer on KCFC's debut feature film, FOOD ONLY, presented a morning workshop on her craft. A screening of Bahman Ghobadi's award-winning feature film TURTLES CAN FLY and drinks reception was presented in association with BAFTA, and Bahman Ghobadi presented a seminar and Q&A session on the Monday. The festival was an opportunity for a dispossessed people to come together and celebrate their culture, and to share it with others. The presentation of food, music and dance, along with film made the festival more like a social event and ensured the attendance of a larger and wider audience. Zamawhand also served as a means of generating new creative activity, with both the music performance, and the 8 films made by local filmmakers all having been created through the agency of the KCFC. Seven short films screened at the festival have been selected to go on a tour of arts cinemas and venues. KCFC is currently seeking funding to develop this project. The Films are been choose by the judge to go on tore are: 1. Satellite. by Rahim Zebeihy 2. What For?. by Hewi Shamzini 3. My city. by Shakawan Mam Aga 4. Who is in Gail?. by Rezgar Baher 5. High Flier. by Fikri Baroji 6. Sadam's Tanks. by Farzin Karim 7. Filling. by Nasir Mostagaran We thanks our main funders Noorthwest Vision Diversity Exchange Network (DXN) Arts Council England Festival 2005 IIn September 2005 The WTC presented ‘ZAMAHWAND’ (Celebration), a series of Kurdish short films at the Greenroom theatre. Zahmahwand was created as a medium through which to present short films that Kurdish students produced as part of the Company’s education programme. Using short films as a way of encouraging Kurdish Asylum Seekers and refugees to integrate into British society and have the opportunity to share their experiences with others in the community. Last year was the first short film festival and it showcased 10 films to over 200 people at the Green Room in Manchester. Along with the Films, the audience was introduced to many other Kurdish traditions including songs, dance, drama and food, non-Kurdish people from the North West were delighted and enlightened to the differences of Kurdish culture. The success of Zahmahwand Festival 2006 gave the Kurdish community a sense of empowerment and felt that they had come some way to being integrated into the multi-culture of Manchester.