Who We Are – and Why KINO ASYL Means So Much to Us
We come from very different countries and bring with us a variety of cultures. It is precisely this diversity that has allowed us to learn so much from one another during our close collaboration. In our new home, Germany, we’ve already had many experiences — both joyful and challenging. One of the most meaningful has been the KINO ASYL project, which brings together people from all over the world in a very special way.
Through KINO ASYL, we not only learn about other cultures, but also how to share our own stories — and to do so in a new language. We are truly grateful that this project exists!
During the festival week, we want to take you on a journey — a journey that tells the story of who we are, where we come from, and why we want to share our films with you. The festival is a special opportunity for us to bring our culture closer to a German audience. It helps foster mutual understanding — and perhaps, to some extent, helps explain our reasons: why we had to leave our homelands, the challenges we’ve faced, and what moves us today.
We hope you enjoy our festival and take something meaningful from it — just as we enjoy the opportunity to connect and engage with you.
Abdolghadir | Ali Khorosh | Ameen | Avan | Ayham | Jalal | Jamila | Mahdi | Morteza | Sarah | Sheriff
This music film from Sierra Leone tells the story of two married women. Mammah Saylah suffers greatly as one of them because she has not yet given birth to a child. She experiences related discrimination both from her husband and, among others, from the son of the other woman. Despite all these circumstances, her precarious […]
Dozens of migrants board an overcrowded truck. Their destination: Fortress Europe. After a arduous journey, when they finally arrive, they face a confrontation with a different brutal reality: Europe’s treatment of refugees.
This music film from Sierra Leone tells the story of two married women. Mammah Saylah suffers greatly as one of them from the fact that she has not yet given birth to a child. The related discrimination she experiences comes both from her husband and, among others, from the son of the other woman. Despite […]
In this action thriller, an Afghan special forces team hunts down corrupt members of the local mafia. Their pursuit takes them from Kabul all the way to the far north of the country. Despite significant obstacles, the team remains determined to complete the mission.
In the film “Documenters,” the Syrian actor Jihad Abdo plays the role of the hero. The film focuses on the events surrounding the Syrian crisis. Activists want to show the world what is happening in Syria through web videos. But then the government bans the publication of these videos…
A night of heavy drinking in Munich. By chance, the paths of the two protagonists cross several times. Where will it lead them?
The short documentary tells the story of aging, youth, change, and ultimately the big word “life.” It is a cross-section in many respects. In the 31 minutes, there is much to discover and little to miss.
Kabul 1970. Amir and Hassan grow up like brothers despite their very different social backgrounds. However, the young friends are soon separated by the Soviet invasion. After Amir flees to the USA, he learns as an adult about Hassan’s death and feels compelled by the circumstances to return to his homeland.
In 2017, Somalia ranked 206th on the FIFA world football ranking. Lack of funding, poor training conditions, and the constant threat of terror from the Al-Shabaab militia hinder the professionalization of the sport. The documentary follows two Somali national players, Sadaq Mohamud and Sa’ad Hussein, on their difficult journey to becoming professional footballers.
Born in the Kurdish region of Iraq, Alan, Jan, and Liya grow up in Stuttgart. When their single mother dies, they learn of her last wish to be buried in her home village. Together, they embark on a nerve-wracking odyssey to Iraqi Kurdistan, where they are confronted not only with their past and other relatives […]
Zaatari is located in Jordan and, with around 80,000 inhabitants, is one of the largest refugee camps in the world. The documentary follows theater director Naxar Bulbul during the process of staging two Shakespeare plays with the Syrian children living there.
In 2001, the Taliban blew up Buddha statues in Bamiyan, one of Afghanistan’s cultural centers. Amid the caves of the former monastery in the area, Bakhtay grows up—a girl torn between fighting local gangs of boys her age and her deep desire to find a place in a new girls’ school.
