Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has banned We’ve Been Fooled, a political comedy by director Kazım Öz, starring veteran actor İlyas Salman. The film satirizes local politics and election dynamics, sparking criticism and a legal challenge for the director. The Los Angeles Kurdish Film Festival condemns the ban and will screen the movie as part of their festival.

The title, a double entendre meaning both “We’ve been fooled” and “We’ve come to vote,” follows Hıdır Diri, a ruling party candidate who wins an election but soon faces corruption, public discontent, and political power struggles. Set in Ovacık—the film draws from real political events, including the controversial removal of Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül, who later contributed to the script.

The Los Angeles Kurdish Film Festival (LAKFF) is a vibrant cultural celebration showcasing the rich diversity of Kurdish stories from Kurdistan and the Kurdish diaspora. Through compelling films, this festival brings to light the complexities of Kurdish identity, history, and the ongoing struggles faced by Kurdish communities worldwide. With a diverse lineup of feature films, documentaries, and short films, LAKFF offers a platform for Kurdish filmmakers to share their voices, fostering dialogue and understanding around universal themes like displacement, resilience, and cultural preservation.

This film will be presented in its original Turkish and Zazake languages with English subtitles.

This program is a venue rental engagement. Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.