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Dormitory / Yurt
Director : Nehir Tuna
1997, the tensions between religious and secular Turks are increasing. Fourteen-year-old
Ahmet is sent by his recently converted father to an Islamic dormitory, a
“Yurt”, to learn Muslim values. Ahmet works hard to be the perfect son but he
has trouble fitting in with rough kids at the Yurt, and feels isolated in his
day secular school, where he hides his new home from his classmates. His only
solace is a new friend Hakan, a street-smart kid who knows how to work the Yurt
system. Together they dream of making their own decisions.
The Reeds / Son Hasat
Director : Cemil Ağacıkoğlu
Set in a village in Anatolia at the foothills of the mountains, portraying the
story of the resistance of a young man, Ali, against the domination of landlords
and local gangs, striving to win back his wife’s love and affection.
Crossing / Geçiş
Director : Levan Akin
Lia, a retired teacher, has promised to find her long-lost niece, Tekla. Her
search takes her to Istanbul where she meets Evrim, a lawyer fighting for trans
rights, and Tekla starts to feel closer than ever.
Not What You Think / Bildiğin Gibi Değil
Director : Vuslat Saraçoğlu
Tahsin, Yasin and Remziye are three siblings who have completely different lives.
The siblings, who have not seen each other for years, are forced to reunite in
Tokat due to their father’s mysterious death. During this process, the three
siblings sometimes come closer to each other and sometimes experience serious
tensions. As the siblings struggle with the complexities of brotherhood and talk
about their pasts, it becomes clear that what they remember is different from
each other. During this process, Tahsin and Yasin learn a truth about Remziye
that deeply affects them.
İstanbul Trilogy / İstanbul Trilogy
Director : Ferzan Özpetek
Meze / Appetizer: 22 Min
Plot: A woman trying to overcome the disappointment of her wedding gathers with
her loved ones around a table of delicious appetizers.
Starring: Ahsen Eroğlu, Serra Yılmaz, Ayta Sözeri, Aslı İnandık, Nezaket Erden,
İpek Tuzcuoğlu, Şirin Sultan Saldamlı, Oğulcan Arman Uslu, Ali Erkan Ramazanoğlu
Müzik / Music: 16 Min
Plot: A man who is having trouble at work gets the opportunity to see how a
simple incident from his childhood can completely affect someone else’s life.
Starring: Yiğit Kirazcı, Burak Yamantürk, Sitare Akbaş, Ali Seçkiner Alıcı,
Pınar Göktaş, Sezen Keser, Görkem Mertsöz, Saim Güveloğlu, Fırat Ege Uykan,
Duygu Demir Sağlam
Muhabbet / Conversation: 22 Min
Plot: A man who moves away from his hometown finds himself in deep conversation
with his family and friends as they eat, drink and celebrate life.
Starring: Kubilay Aka, Süreyya Güzel, Ahmet Kaynak, Nezaket Erden, Emre Dinler,
Özge Erdem, Aykut Yılmaz, Bahar Sili, Güney Yılmaz, Mehmet Ergenç
Documentary Double Feature!
Experience two impactful short documentaries that offer unique perspectives on
human life, resilience, and dignity. This special double-feature screening will
include:
The Good Death
Director: Hasan Ete
Running Time: 20 minutes
Year: 2024
19+
In the medical literature, a “good death” honors an individual’s emotional,
spiritual, and personal needs. This documentary focuses on the work of the Wish
Ambulance Foundation, which helps terminal patients fulfill their final wishes.
It follows the touching story of Wim Beuving and volunteer Frank Halter, who
dedicates himself to bringing comfort and closure to those nearing the end of
life.
Uncle Ali
Director: Ömür Gürgen
Running Time: 30 minutes
Year: 2023
19+
Uncle Ali chronicles the everyday life of Ali Olgun, a man known and loved in
Kadıköy for his resilient lifestyle and deep work ethic. From tin collecting on
the streets to reading the newspaper every morning, Ali, or “Kabasakal,” has
lived his life with dignity and simplicity. Through this intimate portrait, we
get a glimpse into the value of hard work and self-respect.
Rosinante / Rosinante
Director : Baran Gündüzalp
Cast : Nilay Erdönmez, Fatih Dönmez, Can Demir
Running Time : 103 min
Genre : Drama
Language / Subtitles : Turkish / English
A young couple, Salih and Ayşe, live with their six-year-old son who never talks
in a neighborhood in Istanbul that is about to undergo urban transformation.
Salih, who works as a white-collar worker, is laid off unexpectedly. Ayşe, who
sells insurance over the phone, switches to working from home. The family, who
have difficulty paying the rent of the house they live in, start looking for a
house that fits their budget. When Salih learns that there is a business model
where he can transport passengers with his motorcycle, he immediately signs up.
Ayşe, who hides herself under a helmet to earn extra income, works in turns with
her husband. While working on their motorcycle, which they call ‘Rosinante’, the
couple encounters a completely different Istanbul. Their lives take a completely
different turn when Rosinante is stolen.
Oya
Director: Sevinc Baloglu
2024 - 75 mins - In Turkish with English subtitles
Gülbiye, the only woman in the village farming silkworms for the purpose of
producing silk thread, teaches her granddaughter Ada about silkworm farming and
the oya rituals through tales, while an oya collector embarks on a journey to
discover the story behind one of his favorite oya. The story introduces to us
Oya’s, which were once the voice of oppressed women but later became a source of
empowerment by allowing women to achieve economic independence.
Join us for an exclusive screening of the documentary OYA, directed by acclaimed
filmmaker Sevinc Baloglu, was recently selected for the 35th Ankara Film
Festival, celebrated for its compelling storytelling and unique perspective.
Life / Hayat
Director : Zeki Demirkubuz
Hayat tells the story of a young girl who runs away from home, refusing to
accept the life imposed on her. When Hicran, a young woman, is forced to get
engaged by her father, she finds the solution in running away. Thinking that
Hicran does not want to marry him anyway, Rıza does not care about this
situation at first. However, as time goes by, he starts to get upset about not
being wanted by Hicran and decides to confront her. Rıza goes to Istanbul to
find his fiancée, whom he has only seen once.
First Session
The Longest Night
Director : Can Merdan
Cast : Mustafa Kırantepe, Deniz Görkem Kaya, Hasibe Eren, Ceren Taşçı, Dilayda
Güneş, Ezgi Coşkun
Running Time : 15 Min
Year : 2023
Hüseyin, a family man, is forced to share a bed with his brother-in-law Firat,
who happens to be staying overnight in their apartment. The weather is
unbearably hot and Hüseyin’s “longest night” begins.
Cheers to the End
Director : Yiğit Hepsev
Cast : Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, İncinur Daşdemir, Arda Yeşillikçi
Running Time : 15 Min
Year : 2023
The world is coming to an end. Seher returns to hometown after a long time to
save her father and brother. But she encounters a situation she didn’t expect.
Her father insists on one last family dinner. In the midst of all this confusion,
family ties will also be tested.
The Consultant
Director : Mehmet Kanad
Cast : İbrahim Cem Tek, Yasemin Öztürk, Özgür Özgülgün, Barış Can Çelik, Özge
Sivrikaya, Serap Ağalar
Running Time : 10 Min
Year : 2024
In the near future, each family is assigned advisors responsible for them in
order to balance the population and resource consumption and maintain order.
According to the law, the Consultant is the only person in the family who will
make all decisions.
Gukla
Director : Mine Uysal Berger, Özgür Ceylan
Cast : Müge Kizilbagli, Tomris Cetinel, Inci Sefa Cingoz, Sertel Ugur
Running Time : 20 Min
Year : 2024
The Doll is a psychological thriller and horror film that focuses on the
feelings of belonging to a city, in which three characters of different
generations from Izmir meet by chance in an abandoned mansion.
Minik, My Mother’s Short Story
Director : Mert İnan
Cast : Münüre İnan
Running Time : 8 Min
Year : 2023
My mother was taken out of the elementary school she had eagerly started, just
as she was about to enter the first grade, and was sent to attend courses at the
mosque. Due to family pressure, she had to go to the mosque until the age of 13.
However, she had the opportunity to take exams afterwards thanks to a teacher
who had Just moved to their neighbourhood. She completed her unfinished story by
herself and obtained her elementary school diploma. “Minik, My Mother’s Short
Story” is the tale of my mother’s childhood experiences, thoughts, and feelings
that she has shared with me during our conversations.
When The Shift Ends
Director : Erinç Durlanık
Cast : Melis Ulaş, Begüm Alınca, S.Emrah Özdemir
Running Time : 19 Min
Year : 2023
Hilal, who thinks that she started working at a call center where both
Republican and Islamic works are sold via telemarketing, will try to sell to her
first customer at the end of a busy working day full of orientation with
experienced salesperson Pınar.
The Bomb
Director : Onur Doğan
Cast : Ece Bozkaya, Ozan Ayhan, Onur Doğan, Gözde Kocaoğlu
Running Time : 25 Min
Year : 2024
In the Balkan region, where lawlessness prevailed during the war, a man receives
a threatening death letter from the gang he used to be a member of. Thereupon,
he plans to escape to America with his pregnant wife. On the last night, after
being threatened by the gang, the man leaves the house to persuade the gang
members, but does not come back. Instead, an hour later, gang members enter the
house. The gang leader starts a game in which he tells the woman that if she
fulfills his wishes, she can see her husband again as a reward.
Second Session
Kadikoy: Town of the Blind
Director : Arca Arseven
Running Time : 6 Min
Year : 2021
A short documentary about the life in Istanbul, Kadiköy as the city and the
people intertwine.
Between Delicate and Violent
Director : Şirin Bahar Demirel
Running Time : 14 Min
Year : 2023
Can 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.
Passengers
Director : Bugra Mert Akkayalar
Running Time : 14 Min
Year : 2023
Every life is a journey with intersections at certain stops. One autumn night, a
group of people awaited a trip at a station, one of these stops. However,
they’ve all forgotten one truth. When a young man delves into the early night to
find his fiancée, he will remember and remind the others.
In His Fortress
Director : Yasemin Demirci
Cast : Nezaket Erden, Doğu Can, Erdem Şenocak, Başak Kara, Hakan Emre Ünal
Running Time : 20 Min
Year : 2023
A young woman goes to clear out her father’s house shortly after his death and,
during her time there, begins to feel intensely the ups and downs of the
grieving process.
The Loop of Ouroboros
Director : Derya Polat
Cast : Gamze Karataş
Running Time : 14 Min
Year : 2023
In an unknown place and time, a female hero embarks on a journey to transcend
societal norms and gender roles, overcoming a series of symbolic trials in the
process, to reach her true self. “The Loop of Ouroboros” invites the audience
into a narrative woven with mythology and symbols, prompting contemplation
around themes of personal transformation, infinite cycles, and individuation. In
this sense, this is an extraordinary short film that offers an exploration of
the complexity of inner journeys.
Spiral
Director : Utku Bancı
Cast : Gamze Karataş
Running Time : 10 Min
Year : 2024
Zoe is found next to a dead body at her home and is arrested as the only person
at the crime scene. She meets Dr. Jack, a crime psychologist, who suggests she
undergo a hypnosis test called Spiral to recover her memories. During the
hypnosis, Zoe uncovers repressed memories of her traumatic childhood, including
her mother’s suicide. Ultimately, she recalls killing a man named David, who
claims not to be her father, and her husband, Michael. Zoe realizes that her
untreated childhood trauma led to this tragic
outcome.
The 11th Vancouver Turkish Film Festival OPENING GALA RECEPTION and FILM
"ISTANBUL TRILOGY" BY FERZAN OZPETEK - 2023 - 60' - In Turkish with English
Subtitles
Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 6:30 pm - VIFF CENTRE
Gala Reception ( “Meze” Catering by Lokanta Vancouver)
Opening Film 8:00pm
“Join us for an evening of Turkish cinema and celebrating the city’s spirit at
the 11th Vancouver Turkish Film Festival Opening Gala Reception.”
About Istanbul Trilogy
Ferzan Özpetek’s Istanbul Trilogy explores the rich and deep-rooted tradition of
raki banquets, where beautiful people who share life, cheer up or get sad, come
together, with the unique beauty of Istanbul in the background, and comprises of
three independent stories:
Meze: Life is disappointing sometimes. You might think you’re having your worst
day.
But if you have close friends with whom you share your life, maybe that day is
not as bad as you think… and maybe it is a day worth celebrating.
Muzik: A childhood memory that you didn’t care about at first can affect your
destiny and your future. It can shape how you grow up, what you do, what kind of
life you live. Sometimes life gets better with coincidences.
Muhabbet: Missing a person, a city, a friend, a lover is a heavy burden you
always carry on your back. You try everything to satisfy the longing inside you.
The longing never ends, but you learn to live with it.
Müzik: Burak Yamantürk, Yiğit Kirazcı, Sitare Akbaş, Ali Seçkiner Alıcı, Pınar
Göktaş, Sezen Keser, Görkem Mertsöz, Saim Güveloğlu, Fırat Ege Uykan, Duygu
Demir Sağlam, Fırat Küçüksarı, Taylan Dora Güven, Berkay Celal Çetin, Aden Lina;
Muhabbet: Kubilay Aka, Süreyya Güzel, Ahmet Kaynak, İdil Sivritepe, Emre Dinler,
Özge Erdem, Aykut Yılmaz, Bahar Sili, Güney Yılmaz, Mehmet Ergenç
About Ferzan Ozpetek
He is a Turkish-Italian director, screenwriter and writer. In 1976, he first
went to Perugia Foreigners University in Italy, learned Italian for a year, and
then transferred to Rome La Sapienza University to study cinema. After
completing his education there, he went to Accademia Navona and Accademia d’Arte
Dramatica schools to study art history, costume and theater direction and took
lessons from Silvio D’Amico. During this period, he worked with Julien Beck in
various positions on the European tour of The Living Teather. In 1982, he was
assistant director to Massimo Troisi in the film Scusate il Ritardo, and later
to Maurizio Ponzi in the film Son Contento. Ferzan Özpetek worked as an
assistant director for nearly 15 years with different directors such as Ricky
Tognazzi, Lamberto Bava, Francesco Nuti, Sergio Citti, Giovanni Veronesi and
Marco Risi.
American singer Madonna stated that Ferzan Özpetek was “a genius” in an
interview with a television program. Özpetek received congratulations from names
such as John Travolta and Andy Garcia after the screening of his 2009 film,
Serseri Mayinlar, at the opening of the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Ferzan Özpetek served as the jury president of the committee consisting of
actors Hülya Kocyigit, Zuhal Olcay, Aytac Arman, Kenan Isik and director Nuri
Bilge Ceylan at the 42nd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival held in 2005.
In 2007, he was a jury member at the 75th Venice Film Festival.
