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BOSTON TURKISH FESTIVAL'S 16th ANNUAL DOCUMENTARY AND SHORT FILM COMPETITION November 20- December 15, 2021
Due to the circumstances caused by COVID-19 pandemic this year all competition screenings are online.
AWARD WINNING FILMS OF 2021 Best Documentary: ALL-In (Her Şey Dahil) by Volkan Üce Best Short Film: CLIMATE CHANGE (İklim Değişimi) by Yasemin Demirci                                THE GREAT ISTANBUL DEPRESSION (Büyük İstanbul Depresyonu) by Zeynep Dilan Süren Best Documentary Audience Award: IF ONLY CORONA HADN'T GOT IN THE WAY (Araya Korona Girmeseydi) by Zafer Sevener and Sibel Sümer LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN by Ümran Safter Best Short Film Audience Award: BLACK BOX (Kara Kutu) by Can Deniz Atıcı THE SCHOOL BUS (Servis) by Ramazan Kılıç SPECIAL MENTIONS (in alphabetical order) Documentaries AFRICAN CHILDREN (Afrikalı Uşaklar) by Bayram Fidanboy BELLA'S STORY (Bella’nın Öyküsü) by Banu Yalkut Breddermann THE GUARDIAN (Die Wächterin) by Martina Priessner I HAD A DREAM, YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND IT EVEN IF I TELL IT (Bir Rüya Gördüm, Anlatsam da Anlamazsınız) by Burcu Esenç and Cantekin Cantez OUR ONLY HOME (Başka Vatanımız Yok) by Bayram Küçük THE SEEDS OF GOCA YÖRÜK (Goca Yörüğün Tohumları) by Mehmet Köprü UNTOLD STORY OF FATMA KAYACI (Fatma Kayacı’nın Bilinmeyen Hikayesi) by Orhan Tekeoğlu Short Films ANOUSH (Anuş) by Deniz Telek THE CRIMINALS (Suçlular) by Serhat Karaaslan 62-84 I DIDN'T COPY THAT HQ (62-84 Anlaşılmadı Merkez) by Timuçin İpekusta TIP OF THE ZIPPER (Qulpik) by Abdullah Çeper

FINALIST FILMS & SCREENINGS SCHEDULE
DOCUMENTARY
PHASES OF MATTER (Maddenin Halleri)
	PHASES OF MATTER Maddenin Halleri Directed by Deniz Tortumı Documentary, 2020, 71 min. NON-COMPETITION	Phases of Matter follows living and inanimate residents of a teaching hospital in Istanbul, Cerrahpaşa, moving from the operating room to the morgue, between life and other states, the real and the virtual.  more...
DOCUMENTARY
ALL-IN (Her Şey Dahil)
	ALL-IN Her Şey Dahil Directed by Volkan Üce Documentary, 2021, 80 min.	At the start of the summer season Ismail and Hakan start working in Nashira Resort, a gigantic all-inclusive hotel at the Turkish Riviera. Ismail is 18 and dropped out of school to earn money for his family. more...
DOCUMENTARY
LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
	LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN Directed by Ümran Safter Documentary, 2021, 64 min.	Leave the Door Open provides an intriguing and in-depth look into how a deep love of Jazz and a multicultural background meant two teenage Turkish boys refused to simply accept racial discrimination and pushed them to test socially acceptable racial boundaries. more...
DOCUMENTARY
BELLA'S STORY (Bella’nın Öyküsü)
	BELLA'S STORY Bella’nın Öyküsü Directed by Banu Yalkut Breddermann Documentary, 2021, 102 min.	Bella's story reveals a unique account of life in the 20th century Turkey; Bella quickly involved with the cultural and political avant-garde of the time, sharing intimate friendships with famous artists. Bella, also a beloved teacher, witnessed the emerging of the Turkish Renaissance and shaping the history of Modern Turkey. more...
DOCUMENTARY
IF ONLY CORONA HADN'T GOT IN THE WAY (Araya Korona Girmeseydi)
	IF ONLY CORONA HADN'T GOT IN THE WAY Araya Korona Girmeseydi Directed by Zafer Sevener, Sibel Sümer Documentary, 2021, 70 min.	The elderly couple, married for 57 years, arrived in Istanbul (Turkey) for an operation and a quick visit with their son. Before they got a chance to return back to their hometown, Covid-19 outbreak was announced. While still in the shock of the outbreak news, curfew for 3 months was imposed for those who were 65 and older. The couple was stuck in Istanbul with their son, turning into a claustrophobic nightmare lock down in an 80 square meter house. Concern and uncertainty were increasingly affecting their mental health, punctuated by their daily quarrels and documented relentlessly by their son. more...
DOCUMENTARIES
IDENTITY, EQUALITY, AND SURVIVAL (3 Films)
	THE GUARDIAN Die Wächterin Directed by Martina Priessner Documentary, 2020, 88 min.	For 18 years, the Syrian Orthodox nun Dayrayto lives on the grounds of an abandoned Assyrian village in southeastern Turkey. Lately, the situation is getting worse and Dayrayto fears for her dog’s life, which she believes has been deliberately poisoned. The camera follows Dayrayto through her everyday life and observes her struggle for survival. An yet, Dayrayto is a courageous and fearless woman - she made a vow to never leave this holy place and to protect the church, no matter what. more...
	OUR ONLY HOME Başka Vatanımız Yok Directed by Bayram Küçük Documentary, 2020, 20 min.	Afro Turks were brought to the Ottoman Empire as a labor force to work in farms earliest in the 15th, and mostly in the 19th centuries, from Africa. Afro Turks were employed in the country side of the Aegean region. Afro Turks received Turkish Citizenship after the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. They identify themselves as Arabic, Black Turks, or Afro Turks. It is estimated that they have a population of 5 to 10,000. The documentary covers the life experiences of Afro Turks, difficulties they face in social life, exclusion and racial discrimination, daily experiences, and memories. more...
	AFRICAN CHILDREN Afrikalı Uşaklar Directed by Bayram Fidanboy Documentary, 2021, 18 min.	Seasonal workers from different African countries, working in the tea plantations in Rize, located in the Black Sea region in Turkey. more...
DOCUMENTARIES
PASSION AND REMORSE (2 Films)
	UNTOLD STORY OF FATMA KAYACI Fatma Kayacı’nın Bilinmeyen Hikayesi Directed by Orhan Tekeoğlu Documentary, 2021, 40 min.	It is year 1985. Everybody talks about 16-year old Ali Kayacı who died by falling into the fire while staying with his aunt on the mountain pasture of 2000 meters. Ali’s step mother, their neighbor, Aunt Emine says that the cause of this accident was Fatma Kayacı’s neglect. When Fatma Kayacı hears about the accusations from her relatives and neighbors, she leaves her village and will not see any family members or neighbors again. more...
	THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF Uçurumun Kıyısında Directed by Alican Abacı Documentary, 2020, 55 min.	Antalya, Geyikbayırı is a natural gem at the edge cliffs, with it's forests and rivers. Because of it's unique rock structures, it is one of the favorite spots for nature admirers and climbers from all around the world. Engin from Turkey, Tom from Switzerland, Tauri from Estonia, and Wolfgang from Germany embrace wonderful view of the region as they challenge their own limits while becoming one with nature. In 2015 a permission is granted for mining in Geyikbayırı. more...
DOCUMENTARIES
SOUND, STRUGGLE, SUSTAINABILITY (3 Films)
	THE SEEDS OF GOCA YÖRÜK Goca Yörüğün Tohumları Directed by Mehmet Köprü Documentary, 2021, 30 min.	Mahmut Tığrel, a farmer from Antalya, who shows every effort to create a sustainable alternative to industrial farming by his preserved local seeds and unique marketing method, does not give up his fight despite limited production possibilities. more...
	I HAD A DREAM, YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND EVEN IF I TELL IT Bir Rüya Gördüm, Anlatsam da Anlamazsınız Directed by Burcu Esenç & Cantekin Cantez Documentary, 2019, 66 min.	In 1992, Tevfik Esenç, the last person speaking the Ubykh language, died and the Ubykh language disappeared from the world. His granddaughter, Burcu Esenç, went on a journey after the traces of her grandfather. The documentary "I Had A Dream, You Won't Understand Even If I Tell It", directed by Burcu Esenç and Cantekin Cantez, tells the story of the people of Ubykh and the disappearance of a language from the world. more...
	THE TOYMAKER - HIDDEN HEIRLOOMS Oyuncakçı – Saklı Yadigârlar Directed by Yağmur Kartal Documentary, 2020, 45 min.	Sabahattin Parlar is a 90-year old electrician. He uses old electric cables to create ancient Ottoman figurines. He no longer remembers the hardships that he had to face working as an electrician in his younger years as making these figurines brings back the child in him. more...
SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS - I (7 Films)
	THE CRIMINALS Les Criminels / Suçlular Directed by Serhat Karaaslan Short, 2021, 24 min. Cast: Deniz Altan, Lorin Merhart, Erdem Senocak, Ercan Kesal, Cem Baza	Late at night in a small Turkish town, a young couple tries to find a hotel room to spend the night together. They are rejected from all hotels for not having a marriage certificate. Once they believe they’ve found a trick to use, the situation gets out of hand.​ Sundance Film Festival 2021, USA - World Premiere, Special Jury Award for Screenwriting more...
	62-84 I DIDN'T COPY THAT HQ 62-84 Anlaşılmadı Merkez Directed by Timuçin İpekusta Short, 2020, 15 min. Cast: Seyhan Arman, Göksu Girişken, Tajsher Yakub	A woman running away from physical abuse of her husband, a transgender hanging onto life by working as a cook, and a refugee at the edge of suicide, all come together one night, facing a big threat. more...
	ONE Bir Directed by Elif Sözen Short, 2020, 13 min. Cast: Aylin Paksoy, Defne Şener Günay	Aylin and her mom Nazlı live in İstanbul and make both ends meet. They cope with the difficulties of life by developing a tricky business model which fits the requests of present-day urban people. more...
	THE GREAT ISTANBUL DEPRESSION Büyük İstanbul Depresyonu Directed by Zeynep Dilan Süren Short, 2020, 19 min. Cast: Nazlı Bulum, Kübra Balcan, Şebnem Hassanisoughi	Didem and Ayşe are two young women living in Istanbul. Although time has passed since their graduation, they still couldn't find a job. As they are stepping into adulthood and expected to earn their living, for them, no day is different than the other. more...
	CLIMATE CHANGE İklim Değişimi Directed by Yasemin Demirci Short, 2020, 20 min. Cast: Nezaket Erden, Elif Temuçin, Kutay Kunt	Iklim moves from Istanbul to London for a better future, but she faces problems while adapting to a new country. more...
	TIME OF THE LOST EYES Kayıp Gözler Zamanı Directed by Fatih Güneş Short, 2020, 12 min. Cast: Çağdaş Yılancı, Betül Işık, Deniz Kayas, Kadir Pekgüzel	Erdal is out of prison after two years, sentenced for human trafficking. One day on the street Erdal sees a refugee whom he knows from his human trafficking days and follows him. Although Erdal continues with his life in the upcoming days, the memories keep bringing back those days. more...
	CURTAINS Perdeler Directed by Fırat Onar Short, 2020, 15 min. Cast: Deniz İnanç, Aslı Yiğit, Sadin Yeşiltaş, Betül Aşçıoğlu, Fatmanur Ak, Sinan Kandemir, Görkem Aydın	Serap lives with her parents because of the problems she is having with her husband. One day Serap goes back to her own home after an incident that happens to her husband. As she hopes to pen a new chapter in her life with her husband, she finds an earring which doesn't belong to her. With questions in her mind, she tries to find the owner of the earring. more...
SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS - II (13 Films)

	THE SCHOOL BUS Servis Directed by Ramazan Kılıç Short, 2019, 14 min. Cast: Ezgi Ay, Muttalip Müjdeci	A newly appointed female teacher in a village school in Anatolia decides to drive the school bus but there is a slight problem! more...
	ANOUSH Anuş Directed by Deniz Telek Short, 2020, 15 min. Cast: Kübra Kip, Buse Yıldırım, Ekin Aksu, Sercan Özinan, Hasan Ali Yıldırım	Anoush, a little girl, goes to borrow a wedding dress from a distant relative for her brother's wedding. more...
	SUSAM Directed by Sami Morhayim Short, 2021, 17 min. Cast: Fatih Al, Feri Baycu Güler, Eylül Aydın, Fortüne Barokas, İzzet Bana	In the morning of a Barmitzvah ceremony on a Shabbat, the Bahar family lives an unusual day, trying to get Susam out of his room who locked himself in. more...
	MEMORY Anı Directed by Elif Turan Short, 2020, 5 min. Cast: Gılman Kahyaoğlu Peremeci, Meltem Müge Tunç	Looking at old photographs, a woman tries to remember her forgotten memories. She gets even more confused as she goes deeper in her memories. more...
	BE YOURSELF Kendin Ol Directed by Gül Yıldırım Animated Short, 2020, 1.5 min.	People with so many masks are walking outside. One person drops the mask; another person picks it up and wears it. One person has another kind of mask; other person sees that and paints his/her own mask like that. Man falls to the floor and then masks spread around. People gather and investigate that person; they take out their masks. In the last scene, we take out our own masks and the black and white gloomy atmosphere which we are in suddenly brightens up with color. more...
	THE BIG FLIGHT Büyük Uçuş Directed by Balahan Gürel Short, 2021, 6 min. Cast: Ekin Koç, Ceren Gündoğdu, Tuğba Erdem	The elegant and sensuous drama short is full of powerful intercuts and dazzling music. A formalist cross-genre project, THE BIG FLIGHT is a film about soulmates which tells the story of a singer and a fashion photographer who fall in love without knowing each other. more...
	WATER IS LIFE Can Suyu Directed by Anıl Gök Short, 2020, 5 min. Cast: Ahmet Erkan, Nilgün Gök, Reyhan Gülse	In a drying lake the fish try to survive and people carry water to them to keep them alive. more...
	BLACK BOX Kara Kutu Directed by Can Deniz Atıcı Short, 2020, 15 min. Cast: Selin Sangu, Seda Türkmen, Kaya Akkaya	Selin is an 11 year old dealing with the chaos of Istanbul as she prepares for her final exam, which will be a turning point for her. She has to deal with the difficult stage in her life all by herself and the burden becomes heavier as she gets closer to the exam. more...
	FISH IN A BUCKET Kovada Balık Directed by Ayaz Ceylan Short, 2020, 8 min. Cast: Akın Aksu, Alev Pakova	A weird dialogue between a man fishing on the seaside and a mysterious stranger. more...
	FROM MAJID WITH LOVE Majid'den Sevgilerle Directed by Yiğit Armutoğlu Short, 2020, 7.5 min. Cast: Atakan Aytekin, Eren Çevik, Mert Meniz, Ahmet Akman	Majid, a refugee boy, ties his kite to a tree before escaping to an island with inflatable boat. Two boys who live in a village near the coast, Zeynel and Şafak, find the kite. When they notice the text on the kite, they decide to search for the meaning of the text. more...
	THE OTHERS Ötekiler Directed by Umar Eken Short, 2020, 7 min. Cast: Hasan Yıldız, Metehan Akbulut	An old garbage collector is on the streets of the city but he is not alone. A young garbage collector goes to the same places before he does, and won't leave anything to collect for the old men. As the old man is about to lose his hope, he sees a helping hand. more...
	THE POLICE AFTER ME Peşimdeki Polis Directed by Kayahan Kaya Animated Short, 2021, 6 min.	Istanbul, 1950. Following the Second World War’s end, in an atmosphere where freedom of thought was limited; poets, writers, and artists were followed by the police, in their every step.During the same period, the police also followed the famous poet Orhan Veli, one of the founders of the ‘Garip’ movement in Turkish poetry. Meanwhile, a young poet wants to read his poems to Orhan Veli. Will he succeed? more...
	TIP OF THE ZIPPER Qulpik Directed by Abdullah Çeper Short, 2020, 13 min. Cast: Gülistan Çeper, Sinan Tilmaş, Zübeyde Çeper, Özlem Durmaz, İshak Tayak, Alper Altuner, Cengiz Baysoy	Asya works in a boutique store to take care of her mother and little sister. She needs a new coat for the winter but she can't afford it. more...
BOSTON TURKISH FESTIVAL 16th ANNUAL DOCUMENTARY & SHORT FILM COMPETITION