Kobani International Film Festival prepares for seventh edition in Germany
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The preparatory committee for the Kobani International Film Festival on Sunday completed final preparations for the festival’s seventh edition, which will be held in the German city of Gelsenkirchen.
Biter Ali, a spokesperson for the festival, said 913 films from 102 countries were submitted for the seventh edition, with events scheduled to begin on Sep. 4.
Ali said the festival had concluded the submission period, noting that the number of films and participating countries reflects the festival’s expanding reach and its ability to attract entries from different parts of the world.
She said the festival adopted stricter selection criteria this year to raise the standard of participating films. The initial screening process used artificial intelligence tools to analyze the films before they were referred to a specialized selection committee for comprehensive artistic evaluation.
Ali said combining modern technology with human assessment aims to select films that meet the festival’s artistic standards and reflect contemporary cinematic trends.
She added that the festival organizers are keeping an artistic surprise that will be announced during the seventh edition without providing further details.
The seventh Kobani International Film Festival is scheduled to take place on Sep. 4, 5 and 6, with artists, directors and figures from the film and cultural sectors expected to attend.
The festival administration said the new edition will continue to focus on supporting film production and cultural dialogue, while showcasing works from different countries and regions.