Newsletter May 2025

The Goethe-Institut Irak and the Institut Français d'Irak, in cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities and City Art Film & TV Production, are pleased to invite you to the “Tigris Movie Nights” in Baghdad. A selection of contemporary Iraqi, German and French short films will be presented.

The screenings will take place on Tuesday, May 13, and Wednesday, May 14, 2025, both at 7:00 PM at the Abbasid Palace in Baghdad.

Participation is only possible with prior registration.

On May 16 at 4 PM, thoughts will take flight again when six to nine-year-olds read stories at Bulbul and then turn them into an artistic activity.

Bulbul is a project of the Goethe-Institut Irak and the Sêv Gallery and takes place in the Sêv Gallery.

From May 18 to 22, 2025, the Goethe-Institut, in cooperation with the Hardi Cultural Center, is organizing a five-day residency for women near Sulaymaniyah. The aim of the event is to provide women from different regions and backgrounds with space for reflection, exchange, and creative writing.

The workshop is intended for women over the age of 28 and offers a safe environment in which personal and collective experiences related to political violence can be addressed. Under the guidance of Dr. Choman Hardi, author and human rights activist, participants will engage in dialogue-based writing exercises, paired storytelling, and community-building activities.

The residency fosters the development of networks, mutual understanding, and civic engagement across religious, ethnic, and generational lines. Selected texts by the participants will be published in a bilingual booklet (Arabic/Kurdish).

On Fridays, people interested in literature and culture meet at the Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad. On May 30, the Goethe-Institut Irak and al-Mada invite you to the regular Chai Talk at 11 AM in the al-Mada House.

The Chai Talk is a series of events organised by the Goethe-Institut Irak and the Mada Group for Media, Culture and Art.

The Goethe-Institut Irak offers free preparation courses for levels A1, B1 and B2 to help you prepare for the upcoming language exams. Participation is possible both in presence at the institute in Erbil and in an online setting. Several dates are available. Once you have registered, you will be contacted by telephone to confirm your participation.

Early registration is recommended as the number of places is limited.

With its presence at the 11-day International Book Fair in Erbil, the Goethe-Institut Irak demonstrated its strong role as a cultural player in Iraq. In addition to traditional consultations on the Goethe-Institut's language and cultural services, the stand offered a varied programme. The Goethe-Institut was also involved in the stage programme with numerous panel discussions. In addition, the Sersal project was exhibited, followed by a panel discussion on the importance of photo archiving and a concert. Further discussions were also held, including on the 150th anniversary of Thomas Mann and the importance of translation.

The 8th edition of the International Festival of Arts, Culture, and Science at the Tishk University in Erbil was a remarkable celebration of cultural diversity, featuring artistic performances from across the globe. A key highlight of the event was the German Pavilion, designed by the architectural department of Tishk University in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and the German Consulate.