Supersonic Eye

Kawa Akrawi – Director

Kawa Akrawi is a Kurdish filmmaker dedicated to documenting social justice issues. Following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, he travelled throughout Iraq, capturing testimonies of those who suffered persecution. This journey led to two impactful documentaries: "Saddam's Mass Grave," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and "Chemical Ali," which details the atrocities committed by General Ali Hassan al-Majid during chemical attacks on Kurdish civilians.

 

From 2009 to 2020, Kawa worked on 'The Kurdistan Memory Programme,' creating over 500 short and feature documentaries, including "Kuljo: My Heart is Bleeding" and "One Yazidi Family vs ISIS." These films have reached global audiences through BBC and other international broadcasts, aiming to create a comprehensive digital record of genocide stories available online.

 

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Gulan Akrawi – Producer

Gulan Akrawi is an accomplished Kurdish journalist and television producer. She gained recognition as the head of the cultural centre HYS in Turkey. Her work at HYS involved organizing cultural events, workshops, and exhibitions promoting Kurdish identity and heritage, significantly contributing to the community’s cultural discourse.

 

After establishing herself in Turkey, Gulan moved to Belgium, where she currently serves as the head of the newsroom at Roj Kurdish television station, where she leads a team of dedicated journalists who produce news coverage that accurately reflects the realities and challenges faced by the Kurdish community, both locally and globally.

 

Throughout her career, Gulan has collaborated closely with Kawa Akrawi on various documentary projects that delve into the Middle East's complex and often tumultuous issues. Their work has focused on highlighting the region's socio-political struggles, cultural dynamics, and the impact of conflict on everyday life. Together, they have aimed to shed light on underreported stories and provide a deeper understanding of the challenges and resilience of the people living in this diverse and historically rich area.

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