The Duhok International Film Festival has officially unveiled the poster for its 12th edition, designed by artist Gokhan Yeter. Embracing the festival’s official theme—Drought—the artwork reflects the concept not simply as scarcity, but as life, strength, transformation, and connection. Through its layered symbolism of flow, resilience, purification, and cultural unity, the design captures the emotional and environmental urgency at the heart of this year’s program.

Visually poetic and deeply rooted in local Kurdish identity, Yeter’s poster speaks in a cinematic language that resonates far beyond the region. It is an artwork that acknowledges the festival’s heritage while appealing to an international audience. True to DuhokIFF tradition, the poster is narrative, iconic, and inviting, encouraging reflection and imagination as it embodies the spirit of the festival and its evolving voice.

For its 12th edition, DuhokIFF chose Drought and Climate Change as its central theme for two essential reasons:

1. It is an immediate global crisis, affecting communities everywhere and requiring collective solutions.

2. Cinema holds unique power to raise awareness—not just among audiences, but also at institutional and governmental levels—sparking the conversations and actions needed to confront this environmental emergency.

Gokhan Yeter’s poster embodies this mission visually, turning an urgent topic into a poetic and powerful symbol.

Cultural diversity is one of the festival’s greatest strengths. Every year, DuhokIFF welcomes a guest country to highlight its cinematic heritage. For the 12th edition, the festival proudly welcomed Spain, bringing a curated selection of classic and contemporary films that added a vibrant and dynamic dimension to the program.

This ongoing exchange aligns perfectly with the festival’s ethos—building bridges, fostering understanding, and celebrating storytelling across borders.