Kar Yağmadan Önce

Kar Yağmadan Önce (Norwegian: Før snøen faller) is the second feature film by director Hişam Zaman, released in 2013. A co-production of Norway, Germany and Iraq, the film was written by Zaman together with Kjell Ola Dahl and produced by Stein B. Kvae. Using Kurdish and German in its dialogue, the production is classified as a drama.

The story centres on 16-year-old Siyar, who sets out to track down his elder sister Nermin after she flees her wedding. Siyar's journey from northern Iraq to Istanbul continues towards Europe together with Evin, a street child he meets there. The film deals with tradition-based and honour killings. The leading roles are played by Abdullah Taher (Siyar), Suzan İlir (Evin) and Bahar Özen (Nermin).

The production won awards at various festivals. At the 2013 Abu Dhabi Film Festival it received the award for Best Film from the Arab World, and at the Göteborg Film Festival the award for Best Nordic Film; at the Tribeca Film Festival the Best Cinematographer award went to Marius Matzow Gulbrandsen. The same year, Suzan İlir was named Best Supporting Actress at the Amanda Awards, while Abdullah Taher received the Special Jury Prize at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival. In 2014 it also won an award in the cinematography category at the Kosmorama Trondheim International Film Festival.