FilmAmed kicks off with the theme 2025 2025-09-25 12:32:08   Pelşin Çetinkaya    AMED - FilmAmed Documentary Film, which brings the testimony, resistance, and voice of the Kurdistan geography to the screen, will meet the public between September 26-30 with films that will make visible the lives that have been silenced, the realities that have been ignored, and the memories that have been hidden for the 9th time this year.   The 9th FilmAMed Documentary Film Festival, organized by the Peyas (Kayapınar) Municipality and the Middle East Cinema Academy Association, will meet the public between September 26-30, 2025. This year, the festival will be held under the theme “Roots... True Legends Around the Fire,” and the festival's screenings and events will take place at the ÇandAmed cinema halls, the Amed City Theater hall, and the Bezgin Bekir cinema hall. FilmAmed, one of the most important documentary film events in the region today, aims to support the productions of independent filmmakers and ensure that original and critical documentaries reach wider audiences.    FilmAmed welcomes all documentary films that have been censored or unable to find screening opportunities, and that do not contain attacks or insults against any ethnic, religious, sexual, or cultural identity. It promotes documentary cinema as a means of expression and has made it its mission to highlight cultural diversity and social issues.   Sidar Aslan, an employee of the Middle East Cinema Association, spoke about the 9th FilmAmed Documentary Film Festival, which will take place between September 26 and 30.   The films address many issues   Sidar Aslan stated that the films featured in the festival convey meaningful messages, adding, "This year, we will hold our festival in partnership with Kayapınar Municipality and the Middle East Film Association. We have an advantage this year in terms of the large number and size of the venues. The upcoming festival is very important to us. Because the festival will be a platform where independent filmmakers can bring their works to the audience. Furthermore, this festival is organized with an approach that centers cultural diversity and focuses on social issues. For example, the films featured in the festival address issues such as women's rights, social inequalities, and human rights violations. These films convey powerful and meaningful messages."    Support will be provided for projects at the festival   Sidar Aslan shared that a total of 29 films will be screened at the festival, including 24 official selections and 5 screening films, noting that the majority of these films are by female directors. Sidar Aslan said, "Three thematic jury awards and one audience jury award will be given at the festival. In addition, seven projects have been selected, and three of these projects will receive support. During the festival, project owners will present their productions, and the jury will select three of these seven projects. In this sense, the FilmAmed Festival will provide support to the projects, laying the groundwork for their future realization. This will also provide an opportunity for filmmakers who want to make films and produce in the future."    Workshops and panels will be held during the festival   Emphasizing that there will be many panels and workshops before and during the festival, Sidar Aslan provided the following information about these events: "We will have two workshops before the festival date. Two more panels and two more workshops will be held during the festival. The films will be screened at the Amed City Theater, Bezgin Bekir, and Bağlar Municipality cinemas. Our main venue will be the ÇandAmed Congress Center.    Our closing program will take place on September 30, followed by the announcement of the award-winning films. We invite everyone to the FilmAmed Documentary Film Festival, which will take place between September 26 and 30. Our festival features films that address very meaningful and important topics. We invite the public to watch these films, discuss them together, and determine the film that the public jury will select. We aim to run this festival together."