Moscow:The National Center for Iraqi Archives and Memory made its inaugural appearance at the 28th Moscow International Festival of Archival Films, held from September 25 to October 4, 2026. The center presented the feature film *The Turn* (*Al-Mun’ataf*), directed by the late Jaafar Ali and based on the novel *Five Voices* (*Khamsat Aswat*) by Ghaib Tu’ma Farman.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the film screening was attended by Iraqi and Arab diplomats, along with a Russian audience. This participation highlights the presence of classic Iraqi cinema in international cultural forums and underscores efforts to preserve the nation’s cinematic heritage for global appreciation.

Hassan Al-Sudani, the Center’s Director, took part in the festival’s events and professional dialogues with international film and archival institutions. His involvement contributed to enhanced cooperation and the exchange of expertise in film preservation and restoration. The screening of *The Turn* at the festival is particularly significant, as it marks the film’s return to Moscow more than five decades after its initial screening. The last Iraqi feature film presented in the main competition was *The Great Question* (*Al-Mas’ala Al-Kubra*) by director Mohamed Shukri Jameel in 1983, according to available records.

The National Center for Iraqi Archives and Memory, established in October 2025 under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office, consists of six departments and over twenty specialized divisions. It houses millions of documents and thousands of audiovisual items, all aimed at safeguarding national memory and preserving Iraq’s cultural heritage for future generations.