Nesrin Abdeen is a Kurdish-Syrian filmmaker based in Düsseldorf, Germany, whose cinematic work is closely connected to themes of displacement, identity, exile, and the lived experiences of refugees through a human-centered and documentary-oriented visual approach.

Born in Damascus in 1979, Abdeen began her cinematic journey after being displaced by the Syrian war to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In 2012, while living in Domiz Refugee Camp, she started developing her artistic voice through films inspired by the daily struggles, resilience, and emotional realities of displaced communities.

Her breakthrough film Dojeha Sar (The Cold Hell) focused on the harsh realities of refugee life and gained international attention through screenings at several festivals, including the Duhok International Film Festival, where the film also received multiple awards.

She later directed the documentary Peshwazani Marg (Welcoming Death), which explored ISIS attacks on the Kurdistan Region and documented the courage and resistance of Peshmerga forces during the conflict.

Alongside her filmmaking practice, Abdeen continues developing documentary projects focused on Kurdish identity, migration, and the psychological impact of displacement, including a documentary about a Kurdish refugee woman in Germany confronting identity crises and residency struggles, as well as preparations for a feature film centered on Afrin.

Her artistic approach is rooted in documentary realism and emotionally driven storytelling, often focusing on marginalized voices, women’s experiences, and the fragile relationship between memory, exile, and belonging.

At the 6th edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2025, Nesrin Abdeen serves as a member of the Selection & Preliminary Evaluation Committee, contributing a perspective shaped by refugee cinema, documentary storytelling, and Kurdish visual narratives.