Zaradasht Ahmed
Zaradasht Ahmed is an IDFA-winning Kurdish-Norwegian filmmaker originally from Iraq, renowned for his compelling storytelling in conflict zones. With over 17 years of experience, he has worked extensively across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, capturing human resilience through documentary filmmaking. In addition to directing, he has trained local communities in documentation, empowering those living in some of the world’s most volatile regions to tell their own stories, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libanon, and Cambodia.
Ahmed’s filmmaking career began with Persecuted (2008), followed by the award-winning The Road to Diyarbekir (2010), which was broadcast on SVT Sweden, TV2 Norway, ARTE Germany/France, YLE Finland, and VPRO Netherlands. His 2013 documentary Fata Morgana was broadcast on SVT Sweden, and screened at various festivals in Norway and internationally. His feature length documentary The Brother - Bong Thom, (2023), which was broadcast on SVT Sweden, and screened at various festivals in Norway and international
His most acclaimed work, Nowhere to Hide (2016), has won over 20 prestigious international awards. His most recent film, The Lions by The River Tigris has its world premiered at CPH:DOX in 2025.