Dr. Zhilwan Tahir Bapir is a Kurdish academic, theater and film director, born in Erbil in 1966, with a professional career spanning more than three decades across theater, cinema, television, and academic education.

He graduated from the Institute of Radio and Television in Baghdad in 1988 and received his Bachelor’s degree in Theater Directing from the College of Fine Arts at the University of Baghdad in 1992. He later earned a Master’s degree in Directing from the College of Fine Arts at Salahaddin University in 2010, followed by a PhD in techniques and technology in cinema and theater in 2016.

He was among the founding members of the Institute of Fine Arts in Erbil and the Kurdistan Artists Syndicate. From 1992 to 2004, he worked as a lecturer and Head of the Theater Department at the Institute of Fine Arts in Erbil, and later served as Head of the Cinema and Theater Department at the College of Fine Arts.

His professional experience brings together theater, cinema, and television. He has directed 36 theatrical productions based on Kurdish and international texts, four television drama series, six films, and several documentaries. He has also worked as a director and artistic director for Kurdish television channels and directed more than 100 music videos for prominent artists from Kurdistan and the diaspora.

Alongside his creative and academic career, he has published studies and articles on cinema, theater, radio, and television in academic and cultural publications, combining artistic practice with research and education.

At the 7th edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2026, Dr. Zhilwan Tahir Bapir serves as a Selection Committee Member – Narrative Films Section, bringing his extensive experience in directing, cinema, theater, and academic education.