The short documentary Habibollah, directed by Adnan Zandi, has won the Best Film Award at the 9th Filmamed International Documentary Film Festival in Turkey. Produced by Golnaz Hosseini and Sina Ayoubi under Bafr Production, the film received the honor under the category “Ecology: From Roots to Tomorrow – Housel Gardens.”
Filmamed is an international festival dedicated to preserving social memory, showcasing cultural heritage, and bringing together diverse perspectives through the power of documentary cinema. The festival supports independent filmmakers and ensures that original and critically acclaimed documentaries reach a wider audience.
The short documentary depicts the life of Habibollah Zandi, a veteran folkloric singer from the Lailakh region, who faces new challenges and doubts as he ages. The film also follows Mohammad Zandkarimi, Manijeh Rahimi, Abulqasem Kusha, and Hashem Zandi. Buffer Production handles international distribution.
In a statement, the festival jury praised Habibollah:
"The life of a Kurdish musician is revealed through authentic imagery. His voice becomes a space for the larger conflict between human freedom and control, tradition, and the present. Instead of interpretation, the director relies directly on the eye, body, and voice, transforming the natural element of the sitra into the sounds of wind, water, or birds. This sitra is not only a primordial form but also derives from the surrounding nature, expressing itself as a natural right while reflecting deep cultural continuity. The sitra and music are essential elements of Kurdish culture, carriers of history, society, and struggle, rooted in tradition… For this poetic clarity, emotional depth, and more, we award Habibollah."
The festival took place from September 26 to 30, 2025, in Turkey.
Previously, Habibollah won Best Documentary at the 28th Zoom International Film Festival in Poland, the 6th Kobani Film Festival in Germany, and the 4th Kurdish International Film Festival in Amsterdam. It has also been selected for the 31st Sheffield Festival in the UK, the 4th Kurdish Festival in Moscow, and the Cinema Verite Festival in Iran.