Kurdwin Ayub is one of Austrian cinema’s most interesting voices. Her distinct cinematic style has been recognizable from her earliest works through her most recent work, «Sonne». A movie about youth between social media and self-discovery, and a story of rebels.
Three teenage girls from Vienna twerk in hijab and sing a pop song. A YouTube video of it makes them famous overnight, especially among Kurdish Muslims. Yesmin, the only one of the friends who is Kurdish herself, begins to distance herself more and more from her culture. Nati and Bella, on the other hand, seem fascinated by a world that is strange to them. When the girls meet two young Kurdish patriots, the situation is in danger of escalating. A film about young people caught between social media and self-discovery, a story of rebellious young women.
Born in Iraq in 1990, Kurdwin Ayub grew up in Vienna. In her work, she addresses gender roles, identity, patriarchal structures, youth culture, and the fast pace of our time. She began filming at a young age, after convincing her father to buy her a video camera, and she hasn’t stopped since. From 2008 to 2013, she studied fine art and experimental animation at the University of Applied Arts Vienna as well as performance art at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. She launched her festival career at age 20, and only two years later, Viennale dedicated a programme to her.
Ayub’s filmography of the past 12 years is impressive, showing her evolution into one of Austrian cinema’s most exciting voices. Her distinct cinematic style is recognizable from her earliest works to her most recent film, «Sonne». In addition to exploring her central themes, she often plays with audience expectations, blurring the boundaries between authenticity, performance, and DIY culture.
As a child of immigrants, Ayub has always lived in two worlds: in the Iraqi culture she knows from home and from family trips to Iraqi Kurdistan, and in the Austrian world, where she grew up as a digital native with emo, anime, and indie music. A life between different cultures, structures, dynamics, and expectations is the norm for children of migrants. Ayub doesn’t need to research or imagine this experience to empathize with it – she knows it first-hand. While migration and integration are often idealized or didactically presented in films, Ayub shows us that the situation is often multi-layered – sometimes funny, sometimes stupid, challenging yet rewarding, but never one-dimensional.
Ayub’s early performative works are shaped by her personal perspective as a young woman. She questions gender clichés. How do women represent themselves? What is expected of them? What role do social media play? She likes to play with the aesthetics of self-made YouTube videos. Viewers who don’t know that the filmmaker herself is the performer might think that she found the videos on the internet. She explores the phenomenon of self-portrayal among young adults, yet her main concern is to explore who she doesn’t want to be.
Young people also play an important role in her films, which seem to give them room for being themselves and contributing their own ideas. The characters, mostly played by non-professional actors, seem naïve sometimes, unbalanced, and raw, which lends them authenticity. Ayub thus avoids a purely voyeuristic gaze and the nostalgic veneer of an outside view, seeing eye to eye with her protagonists. As she says about herself: «Knowing how to work with non-professional actors is something I consider one of my talents.»
Kurdwin Ayub’s films – whether performance, music clip, trailer, documentary, or fiction – are playful as well as analytical. They resist pigeonholing, which is what makes her an exciting and unconventional filmmaker. We are looking forward to her films and to lively conversations.
Curated by John Canciani
Kurdwin Ayub – Sonne
Kurdwin Ayub is one of Austrian cinema’s most interesting voices. Her distinct cinematic style has been recognizable from her earliest works through her most recent work, «Sonne». A movie about youth between social media and self-discovery, and a story of rebels.
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur is Switzerland’s major short film festival. For six days every November, we transform the city into a dynamic short film hub.
Kurzfilmtage offers discoveries for everyone: our thoughtfully compiled thematic programmes address current events or topics that our curators are passionate about. The competition programmes showcase the latest filmmaking from around the globe, while installations, performances, and other specials highlight the diversity of audiovisual forms. And a programme of special events including concerts, readings, and more enhance the festival experience.
A short film is not just a shorter film. Shorts are a distinct art form, which we showcase at our annual festival.
Short films come in all shapes and genres, and how long – or short – they are, varies quite a bit. Simpler production processes allow filmmakers to capture the zeitgeist and quickly respond to trends. Shorts can be entertaining or surprising, they can analyse society, take a political stance, or offer glimpses of worlds unknown to us.
We compile our short films into thematic programmes or specific sections, such as our competitions, paying close attention to the selection and sequence of films in each programme. All you need to enjoy short films is an open mind for new discoveries and surprises.
Competitions
Recent short films from around the world. The best shorts will be presented with awards on Sunday evening.
Hors Concours
Recent short films from Zurich, Switzerland, and around the world screened out of competition.
Main Focus
Films that explore a region, a social phenomenon, or an artistic trend.
Country in Focus
The cinema of a country from contemporary and historical perspectives.
Person in Focus
A spotlight on the work of a filmmaker.
Special Programmes
Short film programmes dedicated to topics that our curators are passionate about – or that are simply fun.
Family Programmes
Short film fun for young viewers aged 6+ and for the whole family.
Expanded Cinema
Installations, performances, and exhibitions present the medium of film in unfamiliar forms.
Special Events
Concerts, parties, readings, and many other events enhance the festival experience.
Talks & Panels
Moderated talks and panels after the screenings offer additional context and insight into films and themes.
Industry Events
A wide range of educational events and networking opportunities.
