Kurdwin Ayub: Turning the Inside Out

Thirteen years ago, Kurdwin Ayub was first honored with a special at the Viennale. At the time, the filmmaker—born in Iraq and raised in Vienna—was just 22 years old and already making waves with her performative video works. Her pop-cultural exploration of gender clichés, authenticity, and self-staging was as radical as it was intimate,
curated and moderated by: Daniel Hadenius-Ebner / Vienna Shorts

Program 1: (Un)filtered Realities
Wednesday, May 29th 2025 / 6 pm
Österreichisches Filmmuseum

Familienurlaub (Family Holiday), AT 2012, 23 min
Armageddon, AT 2018, 5 min
Boomerang, AT 2018, 22 min
LOLOLOL, AT 2020, 21 min
Alive – Anthea, AT 2021, 3 min

A visit to relatives in Iraq. The father sings, the children play, the Family Holiday is captured—or staged—in 17 short scenes. Kurdwin Ayub mostly remains behind the camera—just like in the sci-fi animation film Armageddon, where two Viennese vampires discuss which cultures produce the best blood. In Boomerang, a father crashes the housewarming party of his ex-wife, while in the documentary LOLOLOL, artist Anthea and their clique attend a major art event. The next morning: at least Alive. (dhe)

Programm 2: Radically Intimate - Early Works
Saturday, May 31st 2025 / 1 pm, 5 pm, 9 pm
Milieukino / MQ

Schneiderei (VAGINALE VI), AT 2010, 5 min
Katzenhimmel, AT 2012, 12 min
Adele 1, AT 2011, 5 min
Sommerurlaub (VAGINALE VII), AT 2011, 3 min
sexy, AT 2013, 3 min
Video 1, AT 2014, 6 min
Katzenjammer, AT 2011, 5 min

In her performative videos, Kurdwin Ayub tells stories about love directly to the camera. Sometimes casually, as in Abscission, where she shrinks her panties with needle and thread; sometimes with teary eyes and words caught in her throat (Video 1); and sometimes, as in Summer Holiday, lip-syncing emotionally to Lorraine Ellison: Stay with Me, Baby! Her intimate settings are filled with female role expectations, while popular songs—from Adele to Miley Cyrus—frame the space between surface and depth. (dhe)