Production telling the story of a female Peshmerga who infiltrated ISIS chosen as Iraq's Oscar entry
Directed by Helkewt Mustafa and detailing the struggle of a female Peshmerga who infiltrated ISIS, the film has been announced as Iraq's official entry for the 2027 Academy Awards.
The Iraqi government announced that the film titled "If You Are Killed by a Woman, You Won't See Paradise", directed by Helkewt Mustafa, has been unanimously selected as the official entry to represent the country at the 2027 Oscar Awards.
Voting and Rationale
The National Oscar Selection Committee within the Iraqi Ministry of Culture announced that the film was chosen unanimously due to its technical proficiency and mature directorial vision.
In the official statement made by the committee, it was emphasized that the production can compete in the international arena with its human depth and local narrative power.
Plot of the Film
The production tells the story of a female Peshmerga sniper who managed to secretly infiltrate the ISIS organization in order to rescue her little sister.
Portraying a warrior woman who refuses to submit to darkness, the film brings female resistance to the silver screen with a strong cinematic language.
Festivals and Release
The world premiere of the film is planned to take place at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in Italy on September 7, 2026.
Following the festival screening, the production will be presented to audiences in cinemas in the Kurdistan Region on September 22.
Director's Background and Co-Production
Director Helkewt Mustafa stated that his primary goal was to show the heroic struggle of Kurdish women to the whole world.
This work, a co-production of Norway, Sweden, and the Kurdistan Region, has already aroused great interest in international cinema circles.