"No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman" Officially Represents Iraq at Oscars

The Iraqi feature film "No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman" by director Hålkut Mustafa has been officially chosen to represent the Republic of Iraq at the Academy Awards (Oscars), competing in the Best International Feature Film category. The national Iraqi committee for selection, formed by the Ministry of Culture – Department of Cinema and Theatre, announced the unanimous decision. The choice followed a comprehensive artistic evaluation, based on the maturity of the directorial vision and the integration of technical and visual elements, which qualified the film for global competition. The film will have its world premiere at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, scheduled from September 2 to 12. It will be presented in the "Venice Open" section, outside the official competition. Director and screenwriter Hålkut Mustafa drew inspiration for the film's story from meeting a female Peshmerga sniper in 2014, when women first began taking frontline defensive positions against ISIS attacks. The plot revolves around "Viyan," a Kurdish sniper (portrayed by Avan Jamal), who travels to Mosul to rescue her younger sister from ISIS's grip, on a journey that forces her to confront violence and its severe psychological impacts. The story carries a personal dimension for the director, who fled to Norway as a child. Mustafa aims to honor the women who struggled for freedom. He previously addressed Kurdish female fighters in his 2015 documentary, "The Women ISIS Fears." The work was filmed in real locations in Mosul and its surroundings to ensure authenticity. This success follows previous achievements by the director, including the documentary "Hiding Saddam Hussein" and the film "El Clásico," which represented Iraq at the Oscars in 2016. The film stars Avan Jamal, Thorbjørn Harr, Kanar Sarshal, and Qader Jalal. Mustafa wrote and directed it. "Henie Films" produced it in partnership with "La Media" and "The Chimney Pot," with "True Colors" handling international sales.