Syrian artists looking to produce films in Kurdistan Region
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Syrian artists who have recently visited Kurdistan are considering future plans to produce movies in the Region as conflicts in their war-torn country have greatly affected Syria's film industry.
"This is one of the aims behind our visit to Kurdistan," Syrian actress Dima Bayaa told Rudaw.
Bayaa, who visited Kurdistan earlier this month for the first time, said that she and a group of other famous Syrian actors and artists who joined her wanted to see the nature in the Region as well as get to know the Kurdish people of northern Iraq.
Born in Syria in 1978 and moving to Dubai with her family as a child, she was surprised when people told her it would be dangerous to travel to Kurdistan as she found the Region to be safe and the people welcoming.
"I call on all stars and people of the world to come to Kurdistan, which is home to breathtaking nature, respectful and good-natured people," she said.
Bayaa added that she has a good fan base of Syrian Kurds in Rojava and was happy to receive a positive response on social media from them after announcing plans to visit Kurdistan.
She explained that in the past Syrian dramas were easy to trade to other countries, but the situation has become very difficult for producers in the film industry in recent years due to conflicts.
"In the past, Syrian producers spent less money on their work and got more benefit from it. Nowadays it is the other way around," she added.
Syrian dramas have been filmed in the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon in the past and Bayaa hopes they can be filmed in Kurdistan in the future, although no official plans to start filming have been released as of yet.
Bayaa was previously a part of the judicial panel for America's popular Emmy awards and now lives in Sweden, running a reality program on Sweden's official television channel.
"This is a new and nice experience for an Arab artist," she added.
"This is one of the aims behind our visit to Kurdistan," Syrian actress Dima Bayaa told Rudaw.
Bayaa, who visited Kurdistan earlier this month for the first time, said that she and a group of other famous Syrian actors and artists who joined her wanted to see the nature in the Region as well as get to know the Kurdish people of northern Iraq.
Born in Syria in 1978 and moving to Dubai with her family as a child, she was surprised when people told her it would be dangerous to travel to Kurdistan as she found the Region to be safe and the people welcoming.
"I call on all stars and people of the world to come to Kurdistan, which is home to breathtaking nature, respectful and good-natured people," she said.
Bayaa added that she has a good fan base of Syrian Kurds in Rojava and was happy to receive a positive response on social media from them after announcing plans to visit Kurdistan.
She explained that in the past Syrian dramas were easy to trade to other countries, but the situation has become very difficult for producers in the film industry in recent years due to conflicts.
"In the past, Syrian producers spent less money on their work and got more benefit from it. Nowadays it is the other way around," she added.
Syrian dramas have been filmed in the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon in the past and Bayaa hopes they can be filmed in Kurdistan in the future, although no official plans to start filming have been released as of yet.
Bayaa was previously a part of the judicial panel for America's popular Emmy awards and now lives in Sweden, running a reality program on Sweden's official television channel.
"This is a new and nice experience for an Arab artist," she added.