Sakar Osman

Biography

Sakar Osman Hassan, born in 2000 in Slemani, is a Kurdish filmmaker dedicated to telling stories rooted in the history and resilience of his people. A graduate of the filmmaking department at Slemani University (2019–2023), Sakar has worked extensively in both short and feature-length productions, developing a deep understanding of cinematic storytelling through hands-on experience. He has served as an assistant director on numerous short films. His attention to detail also led him to work as a continuity supervisor on projects such as Zarand, Moon and Prison, and the feature films 1988 and Harsh Land and Distant Sky. In 2024, Sakar wrote and directed his own short film Fence, a powerful story centered on an Anfal survivor. Though simple in form, the film reflects a deep emotional truth: Anfal not only took the lives of 182,000 Kurds, but left behind thousands more who continue to live in its shadow. Inspired by the words of French screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière—"Any nation that does not produce images about itself is doomed to extinction"—Sakar aims to preserve and reflect the soul of his nation through cinema.