Iraq International Youth Film Festival Unveils Official Selection for Its First Edition

The Iraq International Youth Film Festival has officially announced the lineup for its first edition, featuring a diverse selection of films in the Short Documentary and Narrative Film Competition and the First-Time Filmmakers Competition. Scheduled to take place from February 19 to 22, 2025, the festival will highlight the work of emerging filmmakers from Iraq and around the world.

This year’s selection was chosen after a review process, where young directors and producers submitted their films for consideration. The festival’s lineup includes documentaries, short narratives, and debut feature films, all reflecting new perspectives and creative storytelling.

Festival Film Lineup:

Feature Film Screenings / Evening Showcase

Anasheed Adam – Dir. Uday Rashid (Iraq)

Jahr Al-Feeran – Dir. Mohamed El Saman (Egypt)

My Word – Dir. Mahmoud El Sheikh (Bahrain)

Awal Marra – Dir. John Sawiris (Egypt)

First-Time Documentary Film Competition

Taht – Dir. Ahmed Taher (Iraq)

Al-Rouh Al-Sabe’a – Dir. Mustafa Al Hayaw (Iraq)

Nisaa Jabal Shingal – Dir. Lilian Kamel (Iraq)

Intimenia – Dir. Ahmed Haleem (Iraq)

Nahwa Al-Daw’ – Dir. Noor Saleh (Iraq)

Al-Akhtuboot – Dir. Hussein Raad (Iraq)

Haddath Zat Marrat Fi Al-Mosul – Dir. Abdullah Khaled (Iraq)

Al-Tahadi – Dir. Jafar Ali Hassan (Iraq)

Dhofaf – Dir. Hussein Ammar (Iraq)

First-Time Narrative Film Competition

Troweeda – Dir. Mouni Abu Samra (Jordan)

Matha Hadath – Dir. Riber Raber Moloud (Iraq)

Sath – Dir. Hassan Sabri (Iraq)

Tathkira Hamra – Dir. Ali Al-Gharawi (Iraq)

11 Shubat – Dir. Mohamed Maki (Iraq)

Sufra – Dir. Zain Mohamed Abu Alam (Jordan)

Kan Huna – Dir. Ithar Atto (Iraq)

Intibah – Dir. Mohamed Ouda (Iraq)

Al-Turab Fi Aynek – Dir. Youssef Bashar (Iraq)

Salam 3 – Dir. Al Atheer Mazen (Iraq)

Al-Anisa Baghdad – Dir. Mohamed Khudair (Iraq)

Sitara – Dir. Majid Al-Jasmi & Khalifa Al-Bahri (UAE)

Narrative Film Competition

Shu’la – Dir. Hani Al-Quraishi (Iraq)

Makab Al-Amanyat – Dir. Shahd Ahmed (Iraq)

Hakatha Yajeb – Dir. Ayman Al-Shatari (Iraq)

8.8.88 – Dir. Ahmed Al-Sammar (Iraq)

Al-Khayatta – Dir. Barzan Younis Saleh (Iraq)

Yad Omi – Dir. Kardinia Heman (Iraq)

Sharashib – Dir. Ali Al-Kaabi (Iraq)

Layl Al-Asheqeen – Dir. Khaled Gharib (Egypt)

Ghurfat Sandy Bell – Dir. Hassan Hussein Ismail (Iraq)

Bayt Abyadh Muzlim – Dir. Hardy Hassan (Iraq)

Khataf – Dir. Yasser Al-Asam (Iraq)

Tashadhi – Dir. Maryam Al-Abad (Kuwait)

Side Effect – Dir. Bilal Nassar (Iraq)

Ma’el – Dir. Omar Kamal (Iraq)

Documentary Film Competition

Taht Al-Khat – Dir. Youssef Al-Saadi (Iraq-USA)

Rajloha Khadhra – Dir. Zahraa Ghandour (Iraq-France-Netherlands)

Shay Jafar – Dir. Mohamed Al-Moussa (Saudi Arabia)

Hypo – Dir. Ali Saher (Iraq)

Bersar – Dir. Mohamed Jassim (Bahrain)

Audience Choice Competition / Special Screening

Amana Bahr – Dir. Hind Sohail (Egypt-Sweden)

Maniti – Dir. Hussein Ibrahim (Lebanon-France-Qatar)

1420 – Dir. Arwa Salem (Saudi Arabia)

Bayn Al-Baynayn – Dir. Ithar Ba’amer (Saudi Arabia-USA)

Masnoo’ Liljamal Yustakhdam Lilqubh – Dir. Jafar Mohamed Al-Baqal (Bahrain)

Ghannayna Al-Qaseeda – Dir. Annie Skap (Palestine-Canada)

Yawm – Dir. Ahmed Akbar (Bahrain)

Yawm Sa’eed – Dir. Mohamed Al-Zuwari (Saudi Arabia)

Meerath – Dir. Hussein Hijazi (Lebanon-France)

Wulidt Mash’houran – Dir. Louay Awad (Palestine)

Tahleela – Dir. Amani Jafar (Tunisia-Sweden)

Sihr – Dir. Khalil Khaled (Iraq)

Omniyati Al-Akheera – Dir. Areeb Zouiter (Jordan)

Jahannamiya – Dir. Yasser Faiz (Sudan)

Niyya – Dir. Amini Ayadi (Algeria-France)

Al-Shita’ Al-Akheer – Dir. Haidar Dawood (Saudi Arabia-Sweden)

Fuqdan – Dir. Rami Al-Qassab (Egypt-Syria)

Madonna – Dir. John Farid (Egypt-Luxembourg)

Wainak Anta? – Dir. Mohamed Kouta (Jordan)

Dhabdhabat Ghazza – Dir. Rehab Nazzal (Palestine-Canada)

Al-Madrasa Al-Qadeema – Dir. Abdullah Al-Khamis (Saudi Arabia)

Jazeerat Filasteen – Dir. Noor Bin Salim & Julian Menantou (Jordan)

Fi Qaat Al-Intidhar – Dir. Moatasem Taha (Palestine)

A’maam – Dir. Fouad Hanoun (Iraq)

Du’aa Amal – Dir. Hammad Al-Hammadi (UAE)

Ala Al-Bahr – Dir. Wissam Al-Jaafari (Palestine)