Campaign
Scandal at 6th Emirates International Film festival
Kurdishmedia -The screening of "David the Tolhildan“, the documentary film of Kurdish director Mano Khalil, has been suspended at 6th International Emirates Film Festival, just prior to its screening. It is said that the festival committee has bowed to the pressure of Turkish government and decided not to screen the documentary, which portrays the life of a PKK guerrilla who is from Switzerland. The film was to be screened at the festival in the competition section on 12th of March 2007.
Mano Khalil, the director of the documentary "David the Tolhildan“, made a statement in which he said the suspension shows the oppressive face of the Turkish state. Khalil said that the film was to be shown on 12 of March at 10 pm however he has been told by the director of the festival in the morning at the same day that they cannot screen the film. Khalil’s said: „The festival director, Masoud Imrali Al Ali, told me that there was a pressure from the Turkish state on the United Arap Emirates (UAE) government and UAE goverment officials recommended in writing to the festival committee not to screen the documentary.“
Khalil said that the suspension decision is not acceptable but on the other hand shows that Turkish government is against the cultural activities, free thoughts and dialogues.
"Kurdistan will be free“
Halil explained that he shot the documentary by the financial support of the Swiss Culture Ministry and SF Swiss TV and the documentary welcomed very well in Switzerland and all over Europe. Morever he stated: “Turkish state, as always, is trying to suffocate the voice of the Kurdish artists and Kurdish people. But they should know whatever they do they cannot succeed in their aims. Their pressure gives me more strength and decisiveness to do more of my work. Even if the Turks go to the sky they should know Kurdistan will be free one day! Though my film’s screening got suspended nevertheless Kurdish directors and Kurdish people won a lot of supporters all over the world.“
The Emirates International Film Festival was organized by Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates and took place from the 7th to the 13th of March
2007.
Portrait of a Swiss guerrilla
“David the Tolhildan” is a portrait of David Rouiller, a young Swiss man who joined the Kurdish freedom movement, PKK, five years ago. Rouiller, the son of a university Professor and a former President of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, gave up a comfortable and safe existence in Switzerland, and the amenities of a western lifestyle, to commit his life and strength to the ideals of the Kurdish freedom fight. Is he an adventurer, a dreamer, an idealist, a hero? Is his commitment visionary or illusory? The film "David the Tolhildan" encourages viewers to confront their own outlook on oppression, respect, human dignity, freedom and violence. It also provides an impressive, realistic and up-to-date view of the current situation of the Kurdish freedom movement.
Mano Khalil is a Kurd from Kurdistan in Syria and studied in History and Law at DamascusUniversity between 1981-1986 then went to former Czechoslovakia.to study in Fiction Film Direction between 1987-1994. Khalil worked as an independent film director for Czechoslovakian and later for the Slovakian Television. Since 1996 he lives in Switzerland and works as an independent film director. He has directed many shor films and documentaries.