Welcome to the second OTHER/CINEMA screening on the 30th of November at 6 pm at Kallio Stage

Under the theme KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) and Iraq, we will screen Sahim Omar Kalifa’s short film “Baghdad Messi” (2012) and Shawkat Amin Korki’s feature “Memories on Stone” (2014). The films have English subtitles. Free entrance.

“Memories on Stone” is a film about Kurdish childhood friends Hussein (37) and Alan (40). They direct and produce a film about the genocide of Kurdish people in Iraq, the Anfal campaign in 1988. They learn that to achieve veracity by the means of cinema and to face their own identity, it’s worth putting everything on the line - even their own life.

“Baghdad Messi” takes place in Iraq in 2009. Little Hamoudi (10) is totally obsessed with soccer. Just as the rest of the world, he and his friends are eagerly looking forward to the Champions League finale. The long awaited clash between Messi and Ronaldo. But then Hamoudi’s television breaks down...

After the screening, Erol Mintaş will lead a discussion with human rights activist Sahar Jameel and peace negotiator Hussein al-Taee.

Iraqi Sahar Jameel (b. 1986) arrived to Finland in 2015. In Iraq she worked in human rights organisations, and in Finland with e.g. the Finnish Red Cross, Me Foundation and Startup Refugees Women. She has also worked as an actor in several Finnish film and theater productions.

Hussein al-Taee (b. 1983 Bagdad) is a Finnish-Iraqi peace negotiator who arrived to Finland as a refugee child. He currently works as the head of CMI (Crisis Management Initiative) in Iraq. In the Finnish media al-Taee has discussed the refugee crisis, radicalisation and the social marginalisation as one of the root causes of terrorism.

The location is the new Aalto Studios' space 'Kallio Stage' (former Ryhmäteatteri stage, Pengerkatu 11). Screenings start at 6pm. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages can be purchased at the Kipsari pop-up kiosk. 

OTHER/CINEMA deals with the theme of ‘Other’ from a variety of perspectives, relating to marginalized themes, topics, forms or distribution and markets. The series explores the ways films can connect to the acute debates by inviting different artists, specialists and active members of society to watch films and share a space by talking and listening to others.

The first edition of the OTHER/CINEMA series looks into alternative ways of representing the narratives of the Middle East. Currently, when the divisions between 'Us' as 'Them' are aggressively drawn, we want to invite everyone interested in sharing thoughts and experiences to do so beyond this polarized and politicized context.

Critical Cinema Lab has invited Kurdish screenwriter and film director Erol Mintaş to curate the first edition of the series. Mintaş is an award-winning film director and producer. His films have gained domestic and international recognition and he is currently a mobile resident of Perpetuum Mobile at Safe Haven Helsinki, organised in cooperation with HIAP - Helsinki International Artist Programme. The programme is funded by the Helsinki City Cultural Office.

OTHER/CINEMA is organised by Critical Cinema Lab, an art-practice-led & artistic research entity, based at the Department of Film, Television and Scenography at Aalto University. 

http://www.criticalcinemalab.com