KIIFF

Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival (KIIFF) is an international hybrid film festival dedicated to championing bold, independent voices in contemporary cinema.

KIIFF’s core mission is to curate a highly selective, artistically driven program reflecting the evolving language of global filmmaking. The festival serves as a dynamic platform for discovery, dialogue, and exhibition, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, and cinephiles through a combination of curated online screenings, theatrical opportunities, filmmaker conversations, and exclusive presentations.

With a strong commitment to artistic integrity and cultural diversity, KIIFF prioritizes quality over quantity, presenting a carefully curated selection of films across all genres. Each edition is designed as a focused cinematic event, emphasizing meaningful engagement between creators and audiences. KIIFF maintains a highly competitive selection process, with a limited number of films selected per edition.

The festival features an international jury composed of filmmakers, critics, and industry professionals, ensuring a rigorous and credible evaluation process.

KIIFF offers a dedicated theatrical qualification pathway for one selected film through a 7-day paid public screening in Los Angeles, including exhibition at Lumiere Cinema in Beverly Hills. This screening is conducted in accordance with the official theatrical requirements of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, enabling the film to qualify for Oscar consideration in the Short Film category, subject to Academy rules and verification.

In addition, selected films in the Kurdish category will be officially introduced to the Ministry of Culture of the Kurdistan Regional Government and presented for theatrical screening in Erbil through the Directorate of Cinema and the Kurdistan Cinema Artists Syndicate, with screenings hosted at Empire Cinema Erbil.

All officially selected films will be exhibited through M&R Pictures Entertainment, the festival’s online screening platform, where global audiences can access the program via ticketed screenings from anywhere in the world.

In addition to its official selections, KIIFF hosts an ongoing Filmmaker Interview & Talks Program, fostering in-depth discussions around the creative process, cinematic language, and the future of independent cinema.

Emerging filmmakers identified through KIIFF may be introduced to M&R Pictures Film School, where, upon academic evaluation and jury recommendation, selected talents may be awarded fully funded scholarships across Diploma, Bachelor’s, and Master’s programs. The festival actively supports the long-term artistic and professional development of these filmmakers.

KIIFF has presented films featuring or associated with internationally acclaimed and award-winning artists and organizations, reflecting its growing global reach and curatorial direction.

These include works connected to artists such as:

• Cloris Leachman
• Olympia Dukakis
• Tatum O'Neal
• Louis Gossett Jr.
• George Chakiris
• Tim Landry
• Andrew Scott
• David Lynch Foundation

including productions recognized at the Oscar, BAFTA, and other major international awards.

All selected and awarded projects receive official certification from MRPFS (M&R Pictures Film School), with further academic and professional recognition granted upon evaluation.

The festival operates under the umbrella of M&R Pictures, an international production and distribution company working across global distribution platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV, Tubi, and Roku.

KIIFF welcomes submissions from filmmakers worldwide and remains committed to redefining the possibilities of a new-generation, digitally-driven festival experience.