Saqqez gears up to celebrate Kurdish culture as the 20th International Kurdish Theater Festival begins. The event will highlight the Kurdish language and indigenous traditions. Organizers aim to strengthen the region’s cultural heritage through live performances.
Hamidreza Khoshbakht, the festival secretary, explained that the festival received 39 submissions this year. Twenty-five of these were from domestic groups, while 14 came from Syria, Turkey, and Iraqi Kurdistan. After careful evaluation, the jury selected 10 performances for the final round.
The festival will take place in Saqqez, a city in Iran’s Kurdistan province, starting Wednesday. All performances will be conducted in Kurdish to promote and preserve the language. Khoshbakht emphasized that the festival provides a platform to showcase Kurdish culture and traditional rituals to a wide audience.
This year, participation has increased significantly compared to previous editions. Organizers hope the event will be more impressive than ever with the support of artists, officials, and local communities. “Our aim is to honor Kurdish culture while encouraging collaboration among participants,” Khoshbakht said.
The festival also focuses on evaluating works that offer fresh perspectives and highlight customs, national unity, and the year’s slogan centered on participation and investment. Attention to Kurdish literature and language remains a critical selection criterion.
Looking ahead, organizers plan to enhance the festival’s academic aspects. Scriptwriting will receive special attention with the help of experts in Kurdish language and theater. Khoshbakht also mentioned plans to introduce a children’s and youth section in future editions, though it will not appear this year.
Experts say the festival plays an important role in sustaining local traditions and fostering artistic innovation. The event also serves as a cultural bridge, connecting artists from Iran and neighboring countries. By promoting Kurdish culture through theater, the festival strengthens social cohesion and cultural pride.
The 20th Saqqez International Kurdish Theater Festival is expected to attract both domestic and international visitors. Organizers are confident that the combination of traditional performances and modern perspectives will leave a lasting impact. This festival underlines the importance of cultural preservation and creative expression in Kurdish communities.