Film screening: 'Angels of Sinjar'

Synopsis of the film:
Once the largest settlement of the Yezidis in Iraq, Sinjar today is
nothing but endless rubble. Following the 2014 ISIS attack, the
Yezidis were executed, brainwashed, tortured, raped, and forced into
sexual slavery, all of which was meant to wipe out their  peace-loving
community forever. At the heart of the film lies the striking story of
an incredible woman, Hanifa. Five of her sisters were abducted in
August 2014. The youngest was seven, the oldest eighteen. Shortly
thereafter, at her father’s deathbed, Hanifa swears to him that she’ll
find the girls and unite the family. The film traces Hanifa’s
footsteps to fulfill her promise and presents riveting testimonies of
genocide survivors. One such survivor is Saeed, who narrowly missed
being executed in his native village, Kocho, which now conceals
thousands of human bones. Saeed remembers the faces of those who
pulled the trigger. He survived to testify to the horrific crimes
committed and to avenge his loved ones.

Hanna Polak enters this blood-drenched land to throw a spotlight on

the 21st century Yezidi genocide and its stories of hope and courage.

 

About the Director:

Auteur-director Hanna Polak has an Oscar and Emmy nominations under
her belt for “Children of Leningradsky” and the Producer Guild of
America nomination for “Something Better To Come”, amongst many other
awards and accolades. Her emotional bond with her protagonists allows
her to deliver visceral, poetic films that celebrate the power of
human spirit and that portray the beauty of humanity in the most

adverse circumstances.