Director
Sahim Omar Kalifa
46 years · Zakho, Kurdistan, Iraq · 9 films
Sahim Omar Kalifa (born 1980 Zakho, Iraqi Kurdistan) is a Belgian-Kurdish filmmaker based in Belgium. In 2001, he came to Belgium, and in 2008 he got his Master's degree in filmmaking at Sint-Lukas Film School, Brussels. Kalifa has won 96 international awards with his short films Land of the Heroes, Baghdad Messi, and Bad Hunter. The biggest achievements so far are: A-Jury Prize as Best Short film for 'Land of the heroes' at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival - Generation. B- 'Baghdad Messi' was shortlisted for the 87th Academy awards, the Oscars. It was one of the 10 finalists. C- 'Bad Hunter' was also shortlisted for the 88th Academy awards, the Oscars. 'Bad Hunter' won also several international Awards at some important film festivals, like Jury Award at 59th Valladolid, 38th Montreal World, Dubai IFF and Flickerfest International Film Festival. 2014, Sahim was chosen in Istanbul as Best Kurdish film director. In 2016 Sahim became a member of the Academy Awards 'The Oscars'. He can vote for the Oscar awards [4] Summer 2016, Sahim had filmed his debut film 'Zagros' which has been supported by Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds (VAF), Dutch Film Fund and Eurimages
Best known for
Filmography 9
Baghdad Messi
2023 · Director
On Kanopy
Iraq's Invisible Beauty
2022 · Director, Writer
Cornered in Molenbeek
2018 · Director, Writer
Zagros
2017 · Director, Writer
On IndieFlix
Bad Hunter
2013 · Director, Writer
Baghdad Messi
2012 · Director
Dubai Winter Diary VI: Light and Reflections
2012 · Self
Land of the Heroes
2011 · Director, Writer
Bread
2008 · Director, Screenplay