Rzgar Hama
Festival President
Rzgar Hama is an award-winning theatre artist involved in international projects and collaborations for almost four decades. Originally from Kurdistan, he has resided in various cities before settling in Vancouver, where he served as a director, playwright, actor, technician, acting coach, and more. He serves as President of the Vancouver Kurdish Film Festival and Artistic Director for Sky Theatre Group. He’s a member of the cluster and an artist-researcher in the UBC Research Based Theatre Collaborative! He actively participates in discussions, workshops, and symposiums. He has collaborative projects with RbT and Sky Theater Group, including Soldierland, Phantom Pain, My Home is a Suitcase, and A Smoke Behind the Rope.
Salih Arif
Festival Director
Salih Arif is a Kurdish-Canadian film producer based in Vancouver, where he owns the production company SINEVAN Film Corp. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Duhok. For over fifteen years, Salih has held various roles in the film industry, including actor, producer, line producer, and casting director, contributing to numerous co-productions between Kurdistan and Europe. As a co-founder of the Duhok International Film Festival, he served as its vice president and was also the director of Duhok Cinema Directorate for three years. His passion for storytelling and cultural exchange continues to shape his impact in the industry.
Niwar Ameen
MarCom Manager
Niwar Ameen is a writer and researcher from Kurdistan, holding two MA degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing, the latter from the University of New Brunswick. He has taught at various universities and schools in Duhok and served as chief editor of the Duhok International Film Festival from 2017 to 2020. Niwar has published articles and papers in international journals and volunteered on the editorial board of The Fiddlehead, a Canadian literary quarterly. His debut novel in English is set to be published in the coming year.
Kochar Abubaker
Festival Coordinator
Kochar is an author and cultural activist who advocates passionately for women’s rights. She has authored the autobiographical fiction Nothingness and the poetry collection My Father’s Pigeons. Her award-winning poetry has been translated into multiple languages, including English, Arabic, Danish, German, French, and Farsi. Since moving to Canada in 2016, Kochar has continued to be a powerful voice for Kurdish women, championing their stories and struggles. She has also played a vital role in supporting refugees, working closely with the Journey Home Community organization in British Columbia to assist newcomers in their resettlement journeys.
Rikan Sayda
Operations Manager
Rikan Sayda is a director and videographer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He has directed four short films and is the recipient of two Young Adult Awards: Best Actor in 2009 and Best Director in 2013. With over 10 years of experience in the film and TV industry, Rikan has contributed to numerous films and dramas, both in Kurdistan and internationally. In addition to his work in narrative film, he has directed several music videos, showcasing his versatility and creative vision across various media platforms.
Saman Mustafa
Program Coordinator
Hishyar Hussein
Designer