2024 COMPETITION RESULTS ANNOUNCED
Best DocumentaryTHE GOOD DEATH (İyi Ölüm)
Directed by Hasan Ete
Best Short FilmMORÎ
Directed by Yakup Tekintangaç
Best Documentary Audience AwardGAME CHANGERS (Spielerinnen)
Directed by Aysun Bademsoy
Best Short Film Audience Award
SUCH THINGS DON'T HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD (Dünyada Öyle Şeyler Olmuyor)
Directed by Ali Emre Ceylan
Special Mentions - DocumentariesA JOURNEY TO THE BLACK SEA (Horona Duranlar)
Directed by Bahriye Kabadayı Dal
BETWEEN DELICATE AND VIOLENT (Zarafet ve Şiddet Arasında)
Directed by Şirin Bahar Demirel
HARVEST OF LIGHT (Işığın Hasadı)
Directed by Esin Özalp Öztürk
HOPES FROM THE TREE (Ağaçtan Umutlar)
Directed by Haydar Demirtaş
SAFE SPACE (Güvenli Alan)
Directed by Nurcan Çoban
UFKU AND ÜLVİYE (Ufku ve Ülviye)
Directed by Erkan Tahhuşoğlu
WINE DARK SEA (Şarap Rengi Deniz)
Directed by Nefin Dinç
YAREN
Directed by Mehmet Ali Poyraz
Special Mentions - Short FilmsA FAMILY (Bir Aile)
Directed by Murat Çetinkaya
A TAXI IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT (Gecenin Ortasında Bir Taksi)
Directed by İlkay Demir
BREATH (Nefes)
Directed by Cem Terbiyeli
CHICKEN BROTH SOUP (Tavuk Suyuna Çorba)
Directed by Deniz Büyükkırlı
ESCAPISM (Kaçanlar)
Directed by Deniz Cengiz
RED
Directed by Elif Boyacıoğlu
THE APPLE (Sêv)
Directed by Mehmet Acaruk
THE SHELL (Kabuk)
Directed by Sema Güler
2024 COMPETITION PROGRAM & FINALISTS
Boston Turkish Festival's 19th Annual Documentary & Short Film Competition
Co-presented with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Film Program
OPENING
TEARS OF CEM KARACA
Cem Karaca’nın Gözyaşları
Directed by Yüksel Aksu
123 min. / 2024 / with English subtitles
Cast: İsmail Hacıoğlu, Fikret Kuşkan, Yasemin Yalçın, Melisa Aslı Pamuk, Meral ÇetinkayaINTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024 | 2:00 pm
Museum of Fine Arts, BostonREAD MORE...
CROSSING THE BRIDGE: THE SOUND OF ISTANBUL
İstanbul Hatırası: Köprüyü Geçmek
Directed by Fatih Akın
91 min. / 2005 Remastered / with English subtitles
Featuring Sezen Aksu, Baba Zula, Ceza, Aynur Doğan, Duman, Erkin Koray,
Brenna MacCrimmon, Orient Expressions, Replikas, Müzeyyen Senar, Selim SeslerSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2024 | 2:30 pm
Museum of Fine Arts, BostonREAD MORE...
COMPETITION FINALISTS
November 25 - December 6, 2024
DOCUMENTARIES
A JOURNEY TO THE
BLACK SEAHorona Duranlar
Directed by Bahriye Kabadayı Dal
Doc. | 49 min. | 2024
with English subtitles
The film invites audiences on a journey through the world of 'kemençe' and 'horon,' musical traditions that hold magical power for the Black Sea people living in Türkiye, Greece, and other countries.
A WARP IN TIME
Zaman Bükülmesi
Directed by Sabri Kuşkonmaz
Doc. | 75 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesThe Nomadic Yörük-Türkmens live in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions. Today, most Yörük-Türkmens have adopted a settled lifestyle. This ancient journey intersects with contemporary life, dividing it and warping time.
BETWEEN DELICATE
AND VIOLENTZarafet ve Şiddet Arasında
Directed by Şirin Bahar Demirel
Doc. | 15 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesCan we see the violence of the painter's hands in the brush strokes of his paintings? Could cross-stitch be an alphabet? 'Between Delicate and Violent' imagines unearthing traumatic memories that have not been included in family albums.
FIVE CITIES: ANKARA
Beş Şehir: Ankara
Directed by Alper Kaya &
Gökçin Dokumacı
Doc. | 46 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesAn Ankara narrative under the light of Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, gazing at the plains of Ankara from the castle in the light as sharp as glass while delicately sketching the past, the present and the future of a newly born city and a new country unfolding through a unique perspective...
GAME CHANGERS
Spielerinnen
Directed by Aysun Bademsoy
Doc. | 86 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesAysun Bademsoy's long-term observation of Turkish female soccer players in Berlin-Kreuzberg focuses on the next generation 30 years after their first encounter. Born and raised in Germany, they still ask themselves the question: Do we really feel accepted here?
HARVEST OF LIGHT
Işığın Hasadı
Directed by Esin Özalp Öztürk
Doc. | 52 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesTurkish capital Ankara’s Evren district is home to a community of seasonal workers. The workers, who come to Evren with their families to harvest onions, are trying to cope with various difficulties while holding on to life.
HOPES FROM THE TREE
Ağaçtan Umutlar
Directed by Haydar Demirtaş
Doc. | 76 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesHosyar Ali Hasan was born and raised in Halabja in Northern Iraq. During the Iraq-Iran War, which lasted between 1980-88, millions of mines were laid on the Iranian border. Hosyar Ali loses both legs while clearing mines, but he continues to collect mines every day.
JAZZ MY HOME
Directed by Beraat Gökkuş
Doc. | 87 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesA documentary about jazz, Paris, African-American artists, immigration, racism, and home.
SAFE SPACE
Güvenli Alan
Directed by Nurcan Çoban
Doc. | 13 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesThis documentary explores how Istanbul's streets and nightlife serve as a safe space for LGBTIQA+ individuals.
THE GOOD DEATH
İyi Ölüm
Directed by Hasan Ete
Doc. | 20 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesIn the medical literature, a good death is one that respects the individual's privacy and sensitivity, addresses their emotional, spiritual, and religious needs and wishes, and allows sufficient time for farewells.
THINGS I LEARNED AT 30
30 Yaşında
Öğrendiğim ŞeylerDirected by Sezer Ağgez
Doc. | 21 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesEveryone has a moment of explosive coincidence in their life when they need to pause and reflect. Each coincidence brings with it a new set of questions and new beginnings. The path of graffiti artist Hasan Alveroğlu, aka Chek, is shaped by similar coincidences.
TÜRKAN: THE STORY
OF A FEMALE SCIENTISTTürkan: Bir Bilim
Kadınının ÖyküsüDirected by Gülay Ayyıldız Yiğitcan
Doc. | 31 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesThe documentary, 'Türkan: The Story of a Female Scientist,' chronicles the inspiring life of Professor Dr. Türkan Saylan, a champion of the modern Republic of Türkiye and an idealistic scientist who received the International Gandhi Award for Leprosy in 1986 and a pioneer of modern education.
UFKU AND ÜLVİYE
Ufku ve Ülviye
Directed by Erkan Tahhuşoğlu
Doc. | 25 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesUfku and Ülviye represent two generations: the mother, rooted in tradition and nature, and the son, struggling to find purpose and fulfillment in his profession.
WHO ARE THEY?
WHO ARE WE?Kim Bunlar? Biz Kimiz?
Directed by
Neşe Kayardı & Can Paçacıoğlu
Doc. | 27 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesThrough the lens of personal stories and interviews, this documentary delves into the complex relationship between the Turkish people, renowned for their hospitality and warmth, towards Slavic refugees displaced by war.
WINE DARK SEA
Şarap Rengi Deniz
Directed by Nefin Dinç
Doc. | 43 min. | 2024
with EnglishThis film chronicles the profound changes wrought by global warming in the Mediterranean, the sea Homer famously described as the 'Wine-Dark Sea,' and its surroundings.
YAREN
Directed by Mehmet Ali Poyraz
Doc. | 7 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesThis documentary follows Fisherman Adem Yılmaz's extraordinary friendship with a stork named Yaren.
SHORT FILMS
A FAMILY
Bir Aile
Directed by Murat Çetinkaya
Short | 20 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesCast: Pınar Güntürkün, Bülent Çolak, Mina Örkü, Lara Aldoğan
Bahar (45) and Tamer (45) are newlyweds, each with a young daughter from a previous marriage. As they unpack their new home in a desolate coastal town, they receive tragic news: their daughters have sailed off on a boat, and one has drowned.
A TAXI IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
Gecenin Ortasında Bir Taksi
Directed by İlkay Demir
Short | 20 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesCast: Cansu Fırıncı, Seyhan Arman
Ahmet, a taxi driver, picks up a transgender woman one night. The woman immediately recognizes her old friend, Ahmet, but Ahmet is unable to identify her. They engage in a guessing game to see if Ahmet can figure out who she is.
BREATH
Nefes
Directed by Cem Terbiyeli
Short | 16 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesCast: Emrullah Çakay,
Erdem Şenocak, Hilal Nur VardarArif must care for his bedridden father, who suffers from diabetes. His lover's changing outlook on life forces Arif to choose between his father, who abandoned him, and his own pursuit of freedom.
CHEERS TO THE END
Aç Karnına Çıkmayalım
Directed by Yiğit Hepsev
Short | 15 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesCast: Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, İncinur Daşdemir, Arda Yeşillikçi
The end of the world is approaching, and people are being evacuated. Seher returns to hometown after a long time to save her father Tahir and her brother Serdar. But she encounters a situation she didn't expect.
CHICKEN BROTH SOUP
Tavuk Suyuna Çorba
Directed by Deniz Büyükkırlı
Short | 18 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesCast: Erol Babaoğlu, Name Önal,
Tarhan KaragözWhile examining the corpse of a man who was said to have died of a heart attack during an autopsy, the doctor encounters an unusual symptom.
ESCAPISM
Kaçanlar
Directed by Deniz Cengiz
Short | 15 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesCast: Ceren Taşçı, Deniz Cengiz,
Sinan ArslanTwo childhood friends, who have drifted towards opposite worldviews, reunite after a long time. One has become a mother, while the other has advanced in her career.
MORÎ
Directed by Yakup Tekintangaç
Short | 19 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesCast: Hayrünisa Akbaş, Ozan Çelik, S. Emrah Özdemir
The only keepsake Morî has from his father is an audio recording of the fairy tale her father used to tell him. Morî listens to this story from time to time. One day, a new teacher arrives at school.
RED
Directed by Elif Boyacıoğlu
Animated Short | 2 min. | 2024
Sometimes it is the weird little things in life that trip you up...
REMEMBERINGS
Hatırladıkların
Directed by Melisa Kenanoğlu
Short | 19 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesCast: Dilara Yılmaz, Esra Ronabar, Yağmur Akçil, Koray Atak
A young girl's life takes an unexpected turn when she forms an unlikely bond.
SUCH THINGS DON’T HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD
Dünyada Öyle Şeyler Olmuyor
Directed by Ali Emre Ceylan
Short | 20 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesCast: Ercan Kesal, Ayşe Lebriz Berkem, Kıvanç Kürkçü
Recep, once with a prosperous career and life in Ankara, is compelled to return to his rural hometown and his father's house due to severe mental distress. Displaying bizarre, erratic behavior in the village, Recep incites shame and deep anger from his father.
THE APPLE
Sêv
Directed by Mehmet Acaruk
Short | 15 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesCast: Nur Sürer, Dilan Düzgüner
Zerya is a refugee woman in her 50s living in Paris. When she was only 22 years old, she had to leave her country because of the chemical gas thrown into the city of Halabja. She has lived in France for 30 years. Visiting a painting exhibition in Paris, Zerya said, "This is not an apple".
THE SADDEST LINES
En Hüzünlü Dizeler
Directed by Buğra Özverel
Short | 20 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesCast: Daniil Krasnov, Öyküsu Özyürek
Eren is walking towards Serra's house to collect the belongings left after their relationship ended. While retrieving his things, he hopes to seize one last opportunity to talk to Serra and revive their exhausted relationship.
THE SHELL
Kabuk
Directed by Sema Güler
Short | 16 min. | 2024Cast: Ece Bozkaya, Zuhal Gencer
Leyla (28) is a young painter who has been exposed to male violence and has locked herself in the house for a while.
WHILE LOOKING AT MY FLOWERS
Çiçeklerime Bakarken
Directed by Sevgi Şanlı
Short | 27 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesCast: Zeynep Sıla Ballı, Elif Asmen Arslangörür, Haydar Şahin
Having grown up enduring a difficult childhood in the village, Zehra is brought to Istanbul by her cousin to pursue her education. As she begins sharing the apartment with her cousin's friend, Zehra becomes suspicious of the odd occurrences.
NON-COMPETITION SHORT & DOCUMENTARIES
ATATÜRK’S ÜLKÜ
Atatürk’ün Ülkü’sü
Directed by Gökşin Doğa Egesoy
Doc. | 33 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesThe entire life story of Ülkü Adatepe, the spiritual daughter of Atatürk, from her birth to her death, is told by Betül Adatepe, the daughter of Ülkü's husband Öke Adatepe.
THE PERSISTENT
Vazgeçmeyenler
Directed by Eren Aybars Arpacık
Doc. | 9 min. | 2024
with English subtitlesThe documentary follows the lives of individuals in the region one year after the devastating February 6 earthquake that struck Turkey.
ROOMS WITH NO WALLS: Hope Trickling from Solidarity
Duvarsız Odalar: Dayanışmadan Süzülen Umut
Directed by Sibel Tekin
Doc. | 108 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesThe documentary chronicles the inspiring story of medical solidarity organized by the TTB, the dedicated doctors who volunteered in the region, and the resilient medical chambers that united in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes.
THE WHITE STEED OF REVOLUTION
Beyaz Motosiklet: Devrimin Beyaz Küheylanı
Directed by Aslı Esma Karaca
Doc. | 135 min. | 2022
with English subtitles
The documentary chronicles Tayfur Cinemre's journey, beginning at METU on his motorcycle. Cinemre's story starts in 1968, where he was a university student involved in student movements alongside student leaders of the period.
SEWING MACHINE
Dikiş Makinesi
Directed by Hüseyin Urçuk
Short | 8 min. | 2023
with English subtitlesSeamstress Zeynep is laid off from her factory job. On her way home that day, she discovers a broken sewing machine discarded near a dumpster... and begins a new life.
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