Sardar Zangana is an Iraqi-Kurdish filmmaker, screenwriter, and cultural organizer born in Kirkuk in 1959. His artistic journey combines filmmaking, screenwriting, acting, and cultural management within Iraqi and Kurdish independent cinema.

He studied audiovisual media before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Baghdad, where he developed his cinematic approach rooted in realistic storytelling and socially engaged visual narratives.

Throughout his career, Zangana wrote several screenplays and directed eight short films, while also participating as actor in a number of short films, feature productions, and television drama works.

Alongside his filmmaking activities, he played an active role in Kurdish and Iraqi cinematic culture through festival organization and cultural initiatives. He served as President of the Kirkuk Cinema Forum and President of the Kirkuk International Short Film Festival – Online Edition.

He also participated as jury member in several cinematic events, including the COVID-19 Film Festival organized by the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports in Baghdad.

Over the years, Zangana attended numerous local and international film festivals as filmmaker, jury member, and guest of honor, contributing to the promotion of independent Kurdish and Iraqi cinema.

His cinematic approach is distinguished by its connection to social realism, cultural identity, and everyday human stories, with a particular interest in supporting cinematic dialogue and independent film experiences.

At the 1st edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2020, Sardar Zangana served as Jury President, contributing to the festival’s first artistic and cinematic evaluation experience.