Before Snowfall
International Premiere

Before Snowfall

World Narrative Competition
| Germany, Norway | 105 MINUTES | Kurdish | English subtitles
Drama
How far would you go to restore your family’s honor? As the oldest man in his household, Siyar confronts that question with a vengeance after his older sister, Nermin, flees an arranged marriage, and he must atone for the slight. Siyar tracks her from their small village in Kurdistan to the cultural melting pot of Istanbul. His fateful introduction to Evin, a young girl living on the streets, leads to the first cracks in his resolve. Then Nermin escapes into Europe, and Siyar has no choice but to continue a search that will forever change his notions of loyalty, dignity, honor and love.

With dazzling imagery and fast-paced storytelling, Before Snowfall is a thought-provoking look at honor killing, at the intricate web of connections that sustain the brutal tradition and the unbelievable lengths to which some will go to see it through. Director Hisham Zaman focuses on the male antagonist, deftly portrayed by newcomer Taher Abdullah Taher, to bring Siyar’s moral crisis front and center. As he ventures farther away from home and his relationship with Evin deepens, does Siyar want to end the violent cycle? Is escape even possible?

—Arthur Ryel-Lindsey

Cast & Credits
Directed by
Hisham Zaman
HISHAM ZAMAN was born in Kirkuk, Iraq, in 1975 and studied at the Norwegian Film School. His 2006 short Bawke won over fifty international awards and was named Norway’s best short film of the decade. Zaman’s films Winterland and Before Snowfall opened Norway’s Tromsø International Film Festival in 2007 and 2013.
Director
Hisham Zaman
Screenwriter
Hisham Zaman, Kjell Ola Dahl
Producer
Finn Gjerdrum, Stein B. Kvae
Editor
Sverrir Kristjansson
Cinematographer
Marius Matzow Gulbrandsen
Executive Producer
Finn Gjerdrum, Stein B. Kvae, Magnus Ravlo Stokke, Erik Poppe
Composer
David Reyes
Co-Producer
Mitos Film
Cast
Taher Abdullah Taher, Suzan Ilir, Bahar Özen

Contacts
US Sales Contact
Stine Oppegaard
Norwegian Film Institute
Oslo, 0105
Phone: +47 2247 4500
stine.oppegaard@nfi.no
Sales Agent
Stein Kvae
Paradox Produksjon
Oslo, 0551
Phone: 23227150
linda@paradox.no
International Sales Contact
Stine Oppegaard
Norwegian Film Institute
Oslo, 0105
Phone: +47 2247 4500
stine.oppegaard@nfi.no
Print Source
Kjersti Thorstad
Paradox Produksjon
OSLO, 0551
Phone: +47 9266 2801
kjersti@paradox.no
Press Contact
John Murphy
Murphy PR
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212 414 0408
jmurphy@murphypr.com
* Rush Tickets available at venue except for
Beacon Theatre
Rush will be offered when advanced tickets for a screening or event are no longer available at venues other than Beacon Theatre.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.

Co-hosted by:

Newsletter

Subscribe for festival news, exclusive offers, programming updates, and more!
Get Festival Updates

Tribeca Festival Partners

Presenting Partner
Signature Partners
Presenting Partner
Signature Partners
Presenting Partner
Signature Partners
Presenting Partner
Supporters
Presenting Partner
Friends of the Festival
Presenting Partner
Media Friends of the Festival
Presenting Partner
Media Friends of the Festival
Presenting Partner
Industry Partners
See all partners