Paylaş
The 29th Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival, taking place from 2–7 June, officially opened with film screenings at Kült Kavaklıdere followed by an opening ceremony held at the Ankara State Opera and Ballet Hall.
Among the guests attending the programme were Jurgis Vilčinskas, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye; Pascale Boeglin-Rodier, Director of the French Institute in Türkiye; Larisa Galadza, Ambassador of Canada to Türkiye; Gilda Motta Santos Neves, Ambassador of Brazil to Türkiye; Veli Gündüz Şahin, Mayor of Mamak; and Halil İbrahim Yılmaz, President of the Ankara City Council.
During the ceremony, hosted by Şenay Gürler and Yetkin Dikinciler, plaques of appreciation were presented to the festival’s sponsors and the festival’s honorary awards were bestowed.
Among those in attendance were Esin Küçüktepepınar, President of the Turkish Film Critics Association (SİYAD); actors Ezgi Çelik, Fadik Sevin Atasoy, Sitare Akbaş, and Cengiz Orhonlu; directors Shelagh Rowan-Legg, Biket İlhan, Ümran Safter, Bingöl Elmas, and Çağla Demirbaş; producer Nida Karabol; and academic Özlem Çıngırlar. Members of the FIPRESCI jury—Nadia Meflah, Omnia Adel, and Ece Vitrinel—who will evaluate the festival’s international competition programme, Colours of the World, were also present at the opening ceremony.
The evening featured a musical performance by Zeynep Burcu Altınel and Murat Köseler. Plaques of appreciation were presented by Jurgis Vilčinskas, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, to Mustafa Kemal Çokakoğlu, Deputy Secretary General of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality; Veli Gündüz Şahin, Mayor of Mamak; and Halil İbrahim Yılmaz, President of the Ankara City Council.
In their opening remarks, representatives of local government highlighted the festival’s institutional and social significance. Veli Gündüz Şahin, Mayor of Mamak, recalled that Mamak had hosted the festival’s open-air screenings 29 years ago and expressed his satisfaction at seeing the municipality reunite with the festival after many years. Following his speech, he presented his plaque to his wife, Ayşe Şahin.
Mustafa Kemal Çolakoğlu, Deputy Secretary General of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, conveyed a message from Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, emphasizing the importance of a festival that enhances the visibility of women in art and society and thanking everyone who contributed to its realization. Çolakoğlu noted that the festival fills an important gap on both the national and international levels and affirmed the municipality’s continued support.
Halil İbrahim Yılmaz, President of the Ankara City Council, described the festival as “a 29-year cry,” stating that it has become one of the most important representatives of democracy and freedom of expression through its independent voice.
Representatives of embassies and international delegations emphasized the role of cinema in building cultural connections. Jurgis Vilčinskas, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, highlighted the transformative power of cinema to bring people together through shared emotions. He also underscored the importance of the festival in creating space for women filmmakers and paid tribute to director Bilge Olgaç.
Pascale Boeglin-Rodier, Director of the French Institute in Türkiye, stated that they were proud to be part of the festival and pleased to contribute to its realization. Canadian Ambassador Larisa Galadza noted that films carry diverse voices and experiences, adding that audiences would have the opportunity to engage with these perspectives through the festival’s Focus: Canada programme. She also expressed her appreciation for the ongoing collaboration.
Brazilian Ambassador Gilda Motta Santos Neves likewise expressed her pleasure at participating in the festival and thanked both the President of the Flying Broom Foundation and the festival’s guest filmmaker, Lúcia Murat, whose work is widely recognized for its commitment to democracy and social justice.
Festival guest and Brazilian filmmaker Lúcia Murat said she was honoured to receive the award and deeply moved by the warm reception she had received. She emphasized the significance of being welcomed in this way far from her own country and expressed her admiration for the women who continue to fight for gender equality in Türkiye, as well as for the festival itself. Murat stated that the struggle for women’s rights is inseparable from the fight against the far right, authoritarianism, and fascism. Stressing the shared resilience of Brazilian and Turkish women, she affirmed solidarity in all struggles for human rights, anti-racism, and equality.
Recipients of the festival’s awards used their acceptance speeches to highlight social issues and draw attention to the contributions of women in the film industry. Receiving the Young Witch Award from actor Cengiz Orhonlu, Ece Bağcı noted that she was born and raised in Ankara and said that being called a “witch” felt empowering, representing strength and freedom.
In her speech, Bağcı addressed the challenges faced by workers, young labourers, and students, while saluting women’s ongoing struggle against restrictive social norms. She concluded by expressing her hope for the expansion of spaces that nurture free thought and expression.
Festival guest and Brazilian filmmaker Lúcia Murat said she was honoured to receive the award and deeply touched by the warm welcome she received. Emphasizing the significance of being recognised so far from her home country, Murat expressed her admiration for the women in Türkiye who continue to fight for gender equality, as well as for the festival itself.
She stated that the struggle for women’s rights is inseparable from the fight against the far right, authoritarianism, and fascism. Highlighting the shared resilience of women in Brazil and Türkiye, Murat stressed that they stand together in all struggles for human rights, anti-racism, and equality.
Producer Dilde Mahalli, who received an award in recognition of her contributions to independent cinema, accepted the honour from actor Ezgi Çelik. In her speech, Mahalli emphasized the importance of acknowledging producers, whose work often remains invisible behind the camera, and dedicated the award to her mother.
Unable to attend the festival in person, Melisa Sözen sent a video message explaining that she was working on a project telling the story of a woman resisting an oppressive regime. She thanked all women who continue to show solidarity and support one another. The award was accepted on her behalf by Özge Mumcu.
The festival’s Honorary Award was presented to Emel Göksu by her daughter, Fadik Sevin Atasoy. Göksu reflected on the special significance of receiving the award in a venue where she had once performed on stage alongside her daughter during her younger years.
At the close of the awards ceremony, all audience members were invited onto the stage for a group photograph accompanied by Women Exist (Kadınlar Vardır), the iconic anthem of women’s movements in Türkiye. The evening came to an end with this powerful moment of solidarity and celebration, as participants gathered together on stage in a spirit of unity and collective joy.
On the morning of the festival’s opening day, audiences gathered at Kült Kavaklıdere for a series of screenings across different sessions. The 11:00 a.m. programme featured Maria’s Day by Judit Elek and Replica by Chouwa Liang. At 2:00 p.m., viewers attended screenings of The Magnificent Time Machine by Eliza Capai and Judit Elek’s Island on the Mainland.
The 4:30 p.m. session included Yeni Han, directed by Bilge Olgaç Award recipient Bingöl Elmas, alongside a selection of short films from the Short Reflections from Around the World programme: Daria’s Night Flowers by Maryam Tafakory, Love Your Nails! by Narges Kalhor, Henry Is a Girl Who Likes to Sleep by Marthe Peters, Orla by Marie Lukáčová, Inheritance by Mischa Andreski, and Pet Devil by Anahid Yahjian.
A Vibrant Programme of Films Awaits Festivalgoers
Special events and screenings across Ankara’s districts take centre stage in the festival programme on Wednesday, 3 June.
At 3:30 p.m., festival guest and acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Lúcia Murat will meet audiences for a Masterclass, offering insights into her creative process and filmmaking career.
As part of the festival’s outreach programme, which brings cinema beyond the city centre, Corridor (Koridor), starring Honorary Award recipient Emel Göksu, will be screened at 2:00 p.m. at the Muhsin Ertuğrul Theatre Stage of Mamak Municipality. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the celebrated actress.
Later in the evening, at 7:00 p.m., audiences at the Etimesgut Municipality 100th Anniversary Republic Cultural Centre will have the opportunity to watch Playtime (Hora do Recreio), directed by Lúcia Murat. Following the screening, Murat will join viewers for a special discussion about the film and her work.
The day’s screenings begin at 11:00 a.m. with Rowing Boat in the Main Hall and Three Ways to Return in the Side Hall.
At 2:00 p.m., audiences can watch Maybe Tomorrow in the Main Hall, while Yo, Love Is a Rebellious Bird screens in the Side Hall.
The 4:30 p.m. session features the Canadian Short Film Selection in the Main Hall. Following the screening, filmmaker Shelagh Rowan-Legg, director of the short film Among the Pines, will join the audience for a post-screening discussion. At the same time, The Magnificent Time Machine will be shown in the Side Hall.
At 7:00 p.m., the Main Hall will host Mundurukuyü: The Forest of Fish Women, while Maria’s Day will be screened in the Side Hall.
The final screenings of the day begin at 9:30 p.m., with Girls in the Sky showing in the Main Hall and Yeni Han screening in the Side Hall.
Skiff / Cecilia Verheyden
Centered on youth, the challenges of growing up, and the complexities of friendship, the film follows two young women whose lives become intertwined through a rowing boat. It explores their efforts to find their place in the world, navigate personal struggles, and discover their own identities.
Three Ways of Returning / Xiaolu Guo, Andrea Luka Zimmerman
Mania Akbari
Built around themes of belonging, returning to one’s roots, and connections to place, the film explores how characters with different life stories confront their pasts and their homelands. Through three distinct perspectives and narrative paths, it reflects on memory, identity, and the enduring ties between people and the places they come from.
Maybe Tomorrow / Judit Elek
Weaving together uncertainties about the future, hopes, and postponed dreams, the film presents a story that captures its characters’ everyday struggles alongside their inner reflections with understated sensitivity. Following the screening, audiences will have the opportunity to join a discussion with members of the film’s creative team.
Yo, Love is a Rebellious Bird /Anna Fitch, Banker White
Named after Bizet’s celebrated opera Carmen and incorporating stop-motion puppet animation, the film portrays a fiercely independent woman driven by passion and a desire for freedom. Through a powerful and unconventional narrative, it explores the collision between female identity, emotional autonomy, and the social boundaries imposed upon women.
The Fabulous Time Machine / Eliza Capai
Blending elements of fantasy and drama, the film builds a bridge between past and future. Through its exploration of time and memory, it reflects on human relationships, loss, and the ways in which memory can serve as a force of preservation and resilience, all conveyed through a visually rich cinematic language.
Mundurukuyü: The Forest of the Fish Women / Aldira Akay, Beka Munduruku, Rilcélia Akay
Focusing on nature, ecology, and the struggles of Indigenous women, the film intertwines the culture of the Munduruku people of the Amazon with mythological legends, portraying women’s resistance against environmental destruction and the ongoing fight to protect their land and way of life.
Maria’s Day / Judit Elek
Focusing on what appears to be an ordinary day in a woman’s life, the film reveals the profound inner conflicts that lie beneath the surface. Through the character of Maria, it examines domestic labour, invisibility, and the silent pressures of gender roles with remarkable depth and atmosphere. A post-screening discussion with members of the film team will follow the screening.
The Girls from Above / Bérangère McNeese
Exploring the theme of freedom through the perspectives of women who observe, oversee, or occupy different positions within social hierarchies, the film brings both vertical and horizontal class divisions to the screen. At its heart lies a powerful reflection on women’s solidarity and the possibilities of connection across social boundaries.
No Country for Others / Bingöl Elmas
Directed by Bilge Olgaç Award recipient Bingöl Elmas, this documentary focuses on the experiences of displacement, migration, and coexistence. Tracing the intersections of labour and migration within a historic setting, the film offers a compelling reflection on belonging and shared lives. The screening will be followed by a discussion with director Bingöl Elmas.
The festival programme continues on Thursday, 4 June, with simultaneous screenings and special events taking place at Kült Kavaklıdere Cinema and venues across Ankara’s districts.
At Kült Kavaklıdere Cinema, the day begins at 11:00 a.m. with Between Dreams and Hopes in the Main Hall and Rowing Boat in the Side Hall.
At 2:00 p.m., audiences can watch Island on the Mainland in the Main Hall, while Memories They Told Me screens in the Side Hall, followed by a discussion with the director.
The 4:30 p.m. session features Yo, Love Is a Rebellious Bird in the Main Hall. At the same time, the documentary Yeni Han will be screened in the Side Hall, followed by a conversation with director Bingöl Elmas.
At 7:00 p.m., Mundurukuyü: The Forest of Fish Women will be shown in the Main Hall, while Girls in the Sky screens in the Side Hall.
The final session of the day begins at 9:30 p.m.. The Main Hall will host Maybe Tomorrow, preceded by a special presentation, while Memories They Told Me will be screened in the Side Hall.
As part of the day’s special events, a panel titled “Demystifying International Sales, Distribution and Film Festivals” will take place at 3:00 p.m., featuring Melanie Iredale and Nadira Murray.
In the district programme, Yeni Han will be screened at 2:00 p.m. at the Muhsin Ertuğrul Theatre Stage of Mamak Municipality, followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Bingöl Elmas.
Press Kit Drive Link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wet4eImykRhZ__f13Fe7VBlpHuRiryYh
For inquiries and further information:
Katayoun Dadashi (Press Officer) / 0552 282 7934 / basin@ucansupurge.org.tr
