The Norwegian director of Iraqi Kurdish origin, Helkot Mustafa, clarified today, Friday, the details of the selection of his film "No Paradise for Those Killed by Women" to represent Iraq at the 99th Academy Awards for 2027, in the category of Best International Feature Film.
Mustafa stated, in a statement followed by the Video News Agency, that he feels proud and honored to represent Iraq at the Academy Awards, affirming that the film represents the fruit of many years of work, sacrifices, and belief in a story that deserves to reach a global audience.
He added that the film was chosen by the Iraqi National Committee formed by the Ministry of Culture and the Cinema and Theater Directorate, after it caught their attention with its artistic level and the coherence of its cinematic vision, especially in directing, cinematography, and technical elements, as well as its treatment of a local story with human dimensions.
Mustafa noted that the film highlights the courage of women, relying on real events and experiences, indicating that he wanted through the work to convey the suffering of women who were forced to take up arms to defend themselves.
He explained that the idea for the film dates back to 2014, when he was working as a war photographer on the front lines, where he witnessed women in the trenches fighting for their freedom and survival against ISIS, emphasizing that those scenes remained etched in his memory and formed the primary motivation for realizing the film.
He pointed out that the search for an actress to embody the main role took two years, due to the physical and psychological readiness required for the role, aiming to present a character that combines strength, will, and human aspects, expressing his hope that cinema will contribute to changing society's perception of women's capabilities and roles.