Newsletter January 2026

From January 22 to 26, 2026, the Goethe-Institut and the Institut Français are hosting the German-French Film Week in Erbil to mark the Élysée Treaty. The event will take place at the Hawler Cinema in the Royal Mall.

A total of five films will be shown: two German, two French and one Kurdish contribution. The programme focuses on cultural exchange and at the same time highlights the long-standing cooperation between Germany and France.

The film screenings will begin at 7PM on all days of the event. The film week is aimed at a broad audience interested in culture and invites them to discover European and regional perspectives on contemporary cinema.

The Goethe-Institutis expanding its German language courses: new courses will start in Baghdad and Erbil on February 8, 2026.

Duration: 10 weeks | 5 days per week
550 USD for new customers | 500 USD for existing customers

The courses are aimed at anyone who wants to live, work or study in Germany. Participantsbenefitfrom qualified teachers, communicative and practical lessons, structured exam preparation and advice on living and working in Germany. Participants also receive a 50% discount on the examination fee.
Registration is now open.

The examinations in Baghdadwill alsocontinue. The following dates are scheduled forFebruary2026:

Goethe Certificate B1:
11. February 2026

Goethe Certificate A1:
12. February 2026

Registration is also open now. The offer is aimed at anyone who wants to prove their German language skills – whether for study,workor personal development.
Further information on courses,examsand registration can be found on our website.

A three-day regional conference on educational standards and quality in Tunisia will take place from January 26 to 28. The event will bring together representatives from education ministries and education experts from several countries in the region.

Delegations from the education ministries of the MENA region have been invited, including three representatives from the Ministry of Education of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

In addition, coordinators from the PASCH initiative and regional offices from Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco,Jordanand Iraq will also be attending. The aim of the conference is to strengthen regional exchange on educational standards and to discuss common perspectives on the further development of educational quality.

With the offers to learn German for free, both beginners and advanced learners can improve their language skills. 

From December 9 to 16, the sixth edition of NUHAT, a nationwide support programme aimed at strengthening the Iraqi film industry, took place in parallel with the 12th Duhok International Film Festival. The programme brought together young filmmakers from different regions of the country and focused specifically on practical training and networking. The focus was on directing, screenwriting and cinematography, which were explored in depth in thematically focused workshops. In addition to theoretical discussions, participants worked on their own film projects and gained practical experience working together as a film crew.