Janko Sharif is a Kurdish filmmaker and screenwriter born in Kobani in 1981 and currently works as a director at Rudaw Media Network. He began his visual career in 2004 through directing dozens of music videos and visual musical productions before gradually moving toward television and cinematic directing.

His cinematic approach is distinguished by a strong focus on visual rhythm, emotionally driven imagery, and human-centered storytelling, with a clear inclination toward realism in his directing style. He directed several short films, including Peneber and Dost in 2016, and also worked as assistant director on the feature film The Lucky Pomegranate in Austria.

Alongside his cinematic work, Sharif directed numerous television programs and visual productions while also working as cultural editor for Qamishlo Net and later as editor-in-chief of Xwebûn Post newspaper between 2013 and 2014. His activities further extended into artistic direction, linguistic editing, and cultural media production.

He also contributed to the organization and management of cultural and artistic festivals and events in Germany and held supervisory and media-related roles in projects connected to Kurdish cinema and culture, with a particular interest in supporting independent artistic experiences and strengthening Kurdish cinematic presence internationally.

He is also among the founding members of the Kobani International Film Festival, contributing from its earliest beginnings to shaping its artistic vision and cinematic identity as an independent platform supporting Kurdish cinema and cross-cultural visual dialogue.

At the 1st edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2020, Janko Sharif served as General Supervisor of the Jury Committee, contributing to the establishment of the festival’s early cinematic identity and the supervision of its artistic evaluation process.