Renowned film critic Meghachandra Kongbam has been appointed to the FIPRESCI International Jury for the 12th Duhok International Film Festival 2025, taking place from December 9 to 16 in Duhok, Iraq. He will join fellow jury members Olivia Popp from Germany and Dr. Kovan Hussein Saado from Kurdistan to select the recipient of the esteemed International Critics’ FIPRESCI Prize. This festival is a significant cultural event in the Middle East, showcasing films that highlight Kurdish culture, language, and social realities, while promoting a strong humanistic message against violence and oppression.
Kongbam expressed his enthusiasm for engaging with Kurdish cultural identity and the social injustices faced by the Kurdish people across multiple nations. Festival authorities noted the importance of cinema as a medium of expression for the Kurdish community, reflecting on their history of oppression and the transformative journey of cinema in conveying their humanitarian messages.
Olivia Popp, a film critic and writer pursuing an MA in Global Studies, contributes to Cineuropa and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Dr. Kovan Hussein Saado brings over two decades of media experience and teaches at the University of Silêmanî, focusing on media representation, Kurdish discourse, and film reception.
Meghachandra Kongbam, with a notable career, has been recognized with the Golden Lotus Award for Best Film Critic and has participated in numerous international film juries, reflecting his deep commitment to the discourse of cinema. He authored “Manipuri Cinema” in 2021 and remains a prominent figure in the film criticism landscape.
