Zaynê Akyol is a Canadian director and producer, born in Turkey to Kurdish parents. She has a Master’s Degree in Communications, with a focus on film. Akyol’s work reflects her Kurdish background as well as an interest in political questions. Akyol directed her first feature-length documentary Gulistan, Land of Roses in 2016. The film was shot in Iraqi Kurdistan, where the director spent several months among female soldiers.

Akyol’s Rojek (2022) is a part of DocPoint’s International Competition. In the shocking documentary, the director meets imprisoned members of Isis, many of whom still strongly believe in the extremist movement.

Zaynê Akyol is present in the screening of Rojek on Thu, Feb 2.