Personal Info
Birth date
1964-03-09 (61 Years)
Gender
Male
Known for
Directing
Place of birth
Duhok, Iraq
Also known as
هونهر سەلیم
Hiner Saleem
Biography
Huner Saleem (Kurdish: هونهر سەلیم), also transliterated as Huner Salim, (born 9 March 1964), is an Iraqi–Kurdish film director. He was born in the town of Aqrah (Akre) in Iraqi Kurdistan. He left Iraq at the age of 17, and soon made his way to Italy, where he completed school and attended university. Later on, he moved to France where he lives now. In 1992, after the First Gulf War, he filmed undercover the living conditions of Iraqi Kurds. This footage was shown at the Venice Film Festival. In 1998, he made his first movie, Vive la mariée... et la libération du Kurdistan. His second, Passeurs de rêves, came out in 2000, and his third film, Vodka Lemon, released in 2003, won the San Marco Prize at the Venice Film Festival. He wrote and directed all three. He was honored with the prestigious title Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by French Minister of Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres in 2005. His memoirs titled My Father's Rifle has been published in French, English, Greek and Tamil. His 2013 film My Sweet Pepper Land was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. He was nominated for the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Achievement in Directing for this film.
Filmography
If You Die, I'll Kill You
6
Overview:
In Paris' cosmopolitan and colorful 10th arrondissement, Philippe, who's fresh out of prison, crosses paths with Avdal, a Kurd who is trying to track down an Iraqi war criminal. Avdal, who dreams of staying in France, plans to bring his fiancee Siba to Paris. She's due to arrive in the next few days. The two men strike up a friendship and when Avdal dies suddenly and unexpectedly, Philippe finds himself left to organize the funeral arrangements. What should he do with the body? Siba arrives in Paris, and soon learns that Avdal has died. She is taken in by a group of Kurdish men and before long she also meets Philippe - all of whom are quite smitten by her beauty. Meanwhile, Avdal's father Cheto, a devout Muslim, comes to Paris to grieve for his son. He intends to force Siba to return to her homeland, but the young woman has now had a taste of freedom.Who Killed Lady Winsley?
6.4
Overview:
When Lady Winsley, the famous American novelist, is discovered dead on the remote Turkish island of Büyükada, the great detective Fergün is sent from Istanbul to solve the murder case. With the help of Azra, the beautiful local hotel tenant, he must confront stubborn members of the island community to untangle well-guarded family secrets and discover who the murderer is.My Sweet Pepper Land
7.055
Overview:
Baran, a war hero, becomes sheriff of the capital and refuses to bow down to a tribal chief.Goodnight, Soldier
5
Overview:
Ziné and Avdal are madly in love in spite of their families’ ancestral feud. When both parties finally set aside their differences and agree to their children getting married, Avdal is injured at the front and his inability to perform sexually casts a shadow over the wedding night. As this revives the family tensions, the newlyweds start exploring new forms of pleasure. Will their love overcome decades of conflict and tradition?Tight Dress
10
Overview:
Mert, who lives in Istanbul with dreams of becoming a big actor but has failed to achieve success, is a fan of Marlon Brando. One day, a great opportunity arises for him. Mert, who is not in good shape for the audition, will he be able to achieve success?Vodka Lemon
6.6
Overview:
In a remote, isolated Yazidi Kurdish village in post-Soviet Armenia, Hamo, a widower with a pitiful pension and three worthless sons, travels daily to his wife's grave. There he meets the lovely Nina, who is communing with her late husband. The two are penniless--she works in a local bar that is about to close down, while he has been forced to start selling his meager possessions. All seems hopelessly bleak, yet when Hamo begins to court Nina, their unexpected love revitalizes them.Kilometer Zero
5.4
Overview:
Set during the Iraq-Iran war in the 80s, the film tells of a tragicomic road trip set in Iraq's Kurdistan.Beneath the Rooftops of Paris
6.2
Overview:
An old man living in an attic in a rundown part of Paris, becomes increasingly lonely and prey to ill-health.Vive la mariée... et la libération du Kurdistan
5.7
Overview:
Kurdish expert Hiner Saleem (Shero) wrote and directed this French comedy-drama, set inside the 100,000-population Kurdish community in Paris. The original French title translates as "Long Live the Bride...and the Liberation of Kurdistan." Cheto (Georges Corraface) seeks a wife via videotapes while still seeing his French girlfriend, immigration office worker Christine (Stephanie Lagarde). Cheto places an order for a beautiful girl, but he's disappointed when her sister, country girl Mina (Marina Kobakhidze), arrives at the airport as a substitute. Family pressure forces him to marry her. Unhappy with the way she's treated by Cheto, Mina acquires some progressive notions from Leila (Schahla Aalam) and other local feminists, leading to confrontations with Cheto.Dol: The Valley of Tambourines
8
Overview:
On his wedding day, a Kurdish man must flee through Turkish, then Iraqi and eventually Iranian Kurdistan.Beyond Our Dreams
NYR
Overview:
Passeurs de Reves opens with longtime sweethearts Dolovan and Zara fleeing from their Mesopotamian village, which has been ravaged by ethnic warfare. As they make their way across the frigid Caucasian Mountains, Zara's parents, who are traveling with the couple, succumb to the elements. Dolovan and Zara eventually make it to a run-down evacuee camp presided over by a friendly Kurdish "tsar," where Zara discovers that her deceased father's suitcase is filled with cash. Although this is ostensibly good news, the cash makes the couple vulnerable to smugglers, dodgy guides, and counterfeiters, all of whom are eager to take advantage of Dolovan and Zara's newfound wealth. To further complicate matters, although they have money, the couple lack necessary visas to continue their journey, and soon Dolovan is taken away by the police. Abandoned in the Ukraine, Zara is robbed and then disappears, while Dolovan, traveling solo, eventually makes it to Paris to reunite with his love.Acting
2014My Sweet Pepper Land as The Photographer
2011If You Die, I'll Kill You as Le patron de la sandwicherie
Directing
2022Goodnight, Soldier ... Director
2019Who Killed Lady Winsley? ... Director
2016Tight Dress ... Director
2014My Sweet Pepper Land ... Director
2011If You Die, I'll Kill You ... Director
2007Beneath the Rooftops of Paris ... Director
2007Dol: The Valley of Tambourines ... Director
2005Kilometer Zero ... Director
2003Vodka Lemon ... Director
2000Beyond Our Dreams ... Director
1998Vive la mariée... et la libération du Kurdistan ... Director
Writing
2022Goodnight, Soldier ... Screenplay
2019Who Killed Lady Winsley? ... Writer
2016Tight Dress ... Writer
2014My Sweet Pepper Land ... Dialogue, Screenplay, Writer
2011If You Die, I'll Kill You ... Screenplay
2007Beneath the Rooftops of Paris ... Writer
2007Dol: The Valley of Tambourines ... Writer
2005Kilometer Zero ... Writer
2003Vodka Lemon ... Writer
1998Vive la mariée... et la libération du Kurdistan ... Writer
Production
2022Goodnight, Soldier ... Producer
2014My Sweet Pepper Land ... Co-Producer
2005Kilometer Zero ... Executive Producer, Producer