Country: Turkey

Direction Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Cast Merve Dizdar · Deniz Celiloglu · Musab Ekici · Ece Bagci

Synopsis About Dry Grasses (2023) follows the journey of a young educator who aspires to secure a teaching position in the vibrant city of Istanbul after completing his mandatory service in a remote village. As the days turn into months, his...

Direction Pelin Esmer

Synopsis Oyun (The Play) (2005) follows the journey of nine peasant women from a remote mountain village in southern Turkey who embark on a unique project: writing and performing a play based on their personal experiences. Through the lens of Esmer's...

Direction Mahsun Kirmizigül

Cast Talat Bulut · Mert Turak · Ali Sürmeli · Mahsun Kirmizigül

Synopsis The Miracle (2015) is set in the picturesque countryside of 1960s Turkey, where a newly appointed educator arrives to discover that the isolated village lacks a school. The teacher becomes deeply attached to the villagers, particularly a disabled individual. Driven...

Direction Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Cast Haluk Bilginer · Melisa Sözen · Demet Akbag · Mehmet Ali Nuroglu

Synopsis Winter Sleep (2014) follows Aydin, a retired actor, who manages a modest hotel in the heart of Anatolia alongside his younger wife, Nihal, with whom he shares a tumultuous bond, and his sister, Necla, who is grappling with the aftermath...

Direction Yilmaz Güney · Serif Gören

Cast Tarik Akan · Serif Sezer · Halil Ergün · Meral Orhonsoy

Synopsis The Road (1982) is a critically acclaimed film that won the Palme D'Or for Best Picture at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. It offers a vivid and engaging depiction of contemporary Turkey through the perspectives of five inmates who are...

Direction Zeki Ökten

Cast Tarik Akan · Melike Demirag · Erol Demiröz · Levent Inanir

Synopsis The Herd (1979) follows a peasant family who, due to a local blood feud, are compelled to sell their cherished sheep in the distant city of Ankara. Their arduous journey by train is fraught with challenges, including the need to...

Direction Berkun Oya

Cast Öykü Karayel · Fatih Artman · Nesrin Cavadzade · Defne Kayalar

Synopsis Ethos (TV Series) (2020) follows a diverse ensemble of characters in Istanbul who navigate beyond their sociocultural differences, forming profound bonds as their personal fears and aspirations converge. Spanning 8 episodes, the series delves into the intricate web of human...

Direction Mehmet Ada Öztekin

Cast Aras Bulut Iynemli · Nisa Sofiya Aksongur · Deniz Baysal · Celile Toyon Uysal

Synopsis Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019) follows the heartwarming tale of affection between a man with mental health challenges, unjustly convicted of homicide, and his charming six-year-old daughter. Their bond deepens as the prison becomes their shared residence. Inspired by...

Direction Yilmaz Güney

Cast Yilmaz Güney · Nebahat Çehre · Hayati Hamzaoglu · Nihat Ziyalan

Direction Yilmaz Güney · Serif Gören

Cast Yilmaz Güney · Gülsen Alniaçik · Tuncel Kurtiz · Osman Alyanak

Synopsis Hope (1970) follows the journey of an uneducated man and his loved ones, whose survival hinges on his earnings as a horse-drawn carriage driver. Tragedy strikes when one of his horses is fatally hit by a car, and with neither...

Direction Pelin Esmer

Cast Öykü Karayel · Basak Köklükaya · Cüneyt Yalaz · Yigit Özsener

Synopsis Something Useful (2017) follows Leyla, a 42-year-old lawyer and poet, as she embarks on a lengthy train journey to her high school reunion. During the trip, she crosses paths with Canan, a 21-year-old nursing student who is clearly troubled. As...

Direction Nazli Dinçel

Synopsis Solitary Acts (4, 5, 6) (S) (2015) chronicles the journey of a young woman navigating her adolescent years as she delves into her sexual identity and uncovers her desires. The documentary employs meticulously hand-processed and manipulated images captured on 16mm...

Direction Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Cast Dogu Demirkol · Murat Cemcir · Hazar Ergüçlü · Bennu Yildirimlar

Synopsis The Wild Pear Tree (2018) follows the journey of a young man who leaves his urban life to return to his hometown in the countryside of Turkey. Upon his arrival, he finds himself entangled in the financial struggles of his...

Direction Reha Erdem

Cast Deniz Hasgüler · Onur Unsal · Yildirim Simsek · Mahmut Altuner

Direction Nazli Dinçel

Synopsis Shape of a Surface (S) (2017) presents a harmonious journey crafted by Nazlı Dinçel, where the boundaries between the present and the past, the tactile and the monumental, and the visible and the intangible blur seamlessly. The film weaves together...

Direction Ceyda Torun

Cast Yaman Barlas · Arzu Göl · Kemal Suncu · Necati Özer

Synopsis Kedi (2016) presents a captivating exploration of Istanbul, a city steeped in history, through the lens of its feline inhabitants. This documentary delves into the lives of the city's unique residents, both human and feline, showcasing the deep bond and...

Direction Miraz Bezar

Cast Senay Orak · Muhammed Al · Hakan Karsak · Berivan Ayaz

Synopsis The Children of Diyarbakir (2009) is set in Turkish Kurdistan during the tumultuous 1990s. One fateful May night, on a desolate road near Diyarbakir, the lives of 10-year-old Gülistan and her brother Firat are forever altered. Their parents, a political...

Direction Shevaun Mizrahi

Cast Osep Minasoğlu · Serkis Ziflioǧlu · İzzet Cemal Alpokay · Gaspar Beyleryan

Synopsis Distant Constellation (2017) transports viewers into a surreal, dreamlike world reminiscent of Tarkovsky's films, set within the walls of a Turkish retirement home. The documentary introduces us to a vibrant cast of characters, including mischievous pranksters, creative artists, and charming...

Direction Metin Erksan

Cast Ulvi Dogan · Erol Tas · Hülya Koçyigit · Alaettin Altiok

Synopsis Dry Summer (1964) is a cinematic exploration of intense desires, focusing on the yearning for water and the consuming passion ignited by a forbidden romance. Set against a backdrop of arid landscapes and parched throats, the narrative delves into the...

Direction Ayse Toprak

Synopsis Mr. Gay Syria (2017) chronicles the journey of two gay Syrian refugees striving to reconstruct their lives amidst adversity. Husein, a barber in Istanbul, navigates a dual existence, balancing his conservative family's expectations with his true identity. Meanwhile, Mahmoud, the...