Erbil... The eighth edition of the International Theater Festival began its activities
On Sunday evening, April 20, 2025, with the presence of Pshtiwan Sadiq, Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs; Omed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil; Arian Salahaddin, Deputy Minister of Culture; the Director General of Culture and Art of Erbil; the Head of the Artists' Syndicate; the Head of Professional Organizations; and a large number of artists, famous stars of cinema and theater, and Arab, Kurdish, Iraqi, and foreign artists, in the Roshinbery Hall of Erbil, the capital, the eighth edition of the International Theater Festival began.
The festival, organized by the Erbil Theater Directorate, features the participation of 10 theater groups from the countries of (Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Iran, Turkey) and cities of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
In the opening ceremony of the festival, the Governor of Erbil, in a speech, besides welcoming the festival guests and participants, thanked the organizers and supervisors of the festival. He pointed out that today they are happy that after several years, due to financial difficulties, the theater festival is starting again in Erbil, the capital. He also hoped that this festival would become a cause and reason for the further advancement of art in Kurdistan in general and Erbil, the capital, in particular, and would further familiarize local artists and artists from other countries with each other.
The Governor of Erbil shed light on the 103-year history of Erbil city theater and spoke proudly, emphasizing the importance of this glorious history. He also stressed that despite the financial situation that existed, they have always been supporters, collaborators, and coordinators for artists in Erbil.
It is worth mentioning that the festival will continue for a week. Daily, two plays will be performed at two different times, and the groups' performances will be evaluated by an expert committee. Besides the performances and evaluations of the plays, a number of other activities, such as seminars and critical sessions, will also be organized during the festival.
