Adnan Osman Shanaz is a Kurdish filmmaker and academic from Erbil whose professional career spans more than three decades across cinema, television, and film education. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Film Directing from Salahaddin University and a Master’s degree in Film Directing from the University of Sulaimani.

Throughout his career, he has worked across directing, cinematography, editing, production, and television. He has produced and directed more than fifteen short films, as well as two feature films, Triangle of Death and Kingdom of Ants, in addition to documentaries, television productions, and other artistic projects. His work has received awards for directing, acting, and film at festivals in Iraq and internationally.

Alongside his professional filmmaking career, Shanaz has maintained a strong academic presence. He taught in the Cinema Department at Salahaddin University for four years, organized filmmaking workshops, wrote numerous screenplays, and published books and articles on cinema and screenwriting in Kurdish and Arabic media.

Over the years, he has participated in film festivals as a director, jury president, jury member, and member of organizing committees. His international festival experience includes Carthage, Cairo, Kolkata, Detmold, and Sousse, alongside numerous festivals in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

His relationship with the Kobani International Film Festival extends across several editions, during which he has held responsibilities in film selection, developing a deep understanding of the festival’s evolving artistic direction and programming identity.

At the 7th edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2026, Adnan Osman Shanaz serves as Head of Film Programming, Selection & Evaluation, drawing on his extensive experience as a filmmaker and academic, as well as his long-standing knowledge of the festival and its artistic identity.