Rome-based international sales company True Colours has acquired world sales rights to No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman, the latest feature from Norwegian-Kurdish filmmaker Halkawt Mustafa, ahead of its world premiere at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. Inspired by the real experiences of Kurdish women who fought against ISIS, the drama will screen Out of Competition in the festival’s Venice Open section this September, adding another high-profile international title to True Colours’ growing sales slate.
The film follows Vyan, a female Peshmerga sniper who embarks on a dangerous mission to Mosul to rescue her younger sister after she falls into the hands of ISIS. As she journeys through a city scarred by years of conflict, Vyan is forced to confront not only the trauma of war but also the emotional consequences of the violence she has endured. Mustafa developed the story after years of conversations with Kurdish women who fought on the front lines against ISIS, including a female sniper whose experiences became the foundation of the screenplay.
Leading the cast is Avan Jamal, one of Kurdish cinema’s emerging talents, who is best known internationally for her acclaimed performance in The Exam. She stars opposite Norwegian actor Thorbjørn Harr, recognised for 22 July and his recurring role as Jarl Borg in Vikings. The ensemble also includes Kanar Sarchl and Kader Jalal.
Mustafa serves as the film’s writer, director and producer, continuing a career that has consistently explored Kurdish history and identity through both documentary and narrative filmmaking. His feature The Classic was selected as Iraq’s submission for the Academy Awards in 2016, while his documentary The Women ISIS Fears examined the lives of female Kurdish fighters battling ISIS. He also directed Hiding Saddam Hussein, which told the story of the farmer who sheltered the former Iraqi dictator for 235 days following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Much of No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman was filmed on location in Mosul, allowing Mustafa to capture the city’s landscapes and lingering scars with authenticity. The film is produced by Mustafa alongside Janne Hjeltnes and John M. Jacobsen for Norway’s Hene Films, in co-production with The Chimney Pot in Sweden and La Media in Iraq. Additional co-producers include Shad Ismail, Fredrik Zander and Masous Amralla Al Ali. Running 110 minutes, the project is a Norway-Iraq-UAE-Sweden co-production.
The acquisition further strengthens True Colours’ position as one of Europe’s leading international sales companies. Founded in 2015 through a partnership between Lucky Red and Indigo Film, the company has built a reputation for representing films that premiere at major festivals including Venice, Cannes and Berlin, while handling international sales for a broad range of acclaimed independent productions.
Speaking about the film’s Venice selection, Mustafa described the premiere as “a great honour,” explaining that the story had remained with him for years after meeting Kurdish women who refused to surrender in their fight against ISIS. Fabio Tucci, Head of Acquisitions at True Colours, called the project “an engaging cinematic experience” that powerfully depicts the Kurdish people’s struggle through the perspective of a courageous female fighter. Norwegian Film Institute CEO Kjersti Mo also welcomed the selection, describing the Venice premiere as important international recognition for both Mustafa and Norwegian cinema.
The film’s inclusion in the Venice Open programme places it within one of the festival’s showcase sections for internationally significant works screening outside the main competition, providing a prominent platform ahead of its wider release. For Mustafa, whose work has consistently explored stories often overlooked by mainstream cinema, the Venice premiere marks another major milestone in his career.
No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman will make its world premiere at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, which runs from 2 to 12 September 2026, before opening in Norwegian cinemas in February 2027 through Norsk Filmdistribusjon.
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