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Women’s Labour in Film Against Patriarchal Dominance: Solidarity and Organising in Technical Fields Discussed on Day Four of the Festival
As the 29th International Flying Broom Women’s Film Festival entered its fourth day, it once again demonstrated that cinema is not merely an art form but also a powerful medium for making visible social memory, resistance, and solidarity.
One of the highlights of the day was the panel titled “Women’s Labour in Technical Fields within Türkiye’s Film and Television Industries,” held at Kült Kavaklıdere Cinema and moderated by Prof. Dr. Mutlu Binark. The discussion attracted considerable interest, addressing systemic inequalities and patriarchal structures embedded within technical professions in the industry. Composer, sound engineer and sound designer Mine Pakel, editor Tuvana Simin Günay, and writer Dr. Aysun Öner shared their experiences of navigating the sector as women, the challenges they have encountered, and the vital role played by networks of solidarity.
Reflecting on the obstacles she faced during the early years of her career, Mine Pakel spoke about the difficulties of securing fair financial recognition for her work. Editor Tuvana Simin Günay discussed the persistent lack of trust afforded to women in technical positions and shared experiences of being subjected to “mansplaining” in professional settings. Dr. Aysun Öner highlighted how women are frequently discouraged from entering the industry altogether through assumptions regarding heavy equipment and are often exposed to the exploitation of unpaid labour in trainee and assistant positions. The panel also addressed collective initiatives such as Susma Bitsin (Break the Silence) and the Editors’ Solidarity Network (KUDA), established to combat harassment and discrimination within the sector. Throughout the discussion, speakers underscored the necessity of collective organising and robust support networks in building a more equitable future for cinema.
The day’s screenings offered audiences a rich and diverse programme. At 11:00, the Short Reflections from Around the World selection brought together experimental works by women filmmakers from different continents, alongside Three Ways to Turn, co-directed by Xiaolu Guo, Andrea Luka Zimmerman, and Mania Akbari.
The 14:00 programme featured The Education of Jane Cumming, directed by Sophie Heldman, followed by an in-depth discussion with producer Nadira Murray on the pursuit of historical justice. Also screening in the same slot was Between Dreams and Hope, directed by Farnoosh Samadi, which portrays the struggle for survival under an oppressive regime.
Günün seanslarında ise sinemaseverler zengin bir programla buluştu. Sabah saat 11.00 seansında farklı kıtalardan kadın yönetmenlerin deneysel hikâyelerini bir araya getiren Dünyadan Kısa Yansımalar seçkisi ile yönetmenliğini Xiaolu Guo, Andrea Luka Zimmerman ve Mania Akbari’nin ortaklaşa üstlendiği Dönüşün Üç Yolu filmleri perdedeydi. Saat 14.00 seansında Sophie Heldman’ın yönettigi Jane Cumming’in Eğitimi filminin gösterimi yapıldı ve film sonrasında yapımcılardan Nadira Murray ile tarihi adalet mücadelesi üzerine derinlikli bir söyleşi gerçekleştirildi. Aynı seansta, baskıcı bir rejim altında yaşam mücadelesi veren bir bireyin hikâyesini ele alan Farnoosh Samadi imzalı Düşler ve Umutlar Arasında filmi de izleyiciyle buluştu.
At 16:30, audiences attended Nuns Against the Vatican, the acclaimed documentary by Emmy Award-winning director Lorena Luciano, which examines abuse within the Catholic Church and the determined struggle of nuns seeking accountability. Following the emotionally charged screening, producer Filippo Piscopo and Sister Vida, one of the nuns featured in the film, joined the audience for a moving post-screening conversation. Also presented in this section was Memories Told to Me, directed by renowned Brazilian filmmaker Lucia Murat, a work centred on questions of memory and remembrance. The screening was followed by a conversation with the director.
At 19:00, audiences were welcomed by At the Head of the Dry Stone, directed by Yeşim Ustaoğlu and Selen Heinz, a film distinguished by its nuanced character studies. Following the screening, the filmmakers participated in an engaging discussion with viewers. Also featured in this programme was Girls in the Sky, directed by Bérangère McNeese, which explores the lives of women pursuing freedom on their own terms.
The festival’s final screenings of the day took place at 21:30. Audiences watched Near Paradise, directed by Yulia Lokshina, opening a window onto life in geographically isolated regions, alongside Playtime, Lucia Murat’s politically charged examination of bureaucratic obstacles. Both screenings were followed by Q&A sessions with the filmmakers.
What Awaits Audiences on 6 June?
The excitement continues on 6 June with another packed programme of screenings, discussions, and special events.
Saturday’s programme opens at 11:00 with Karla and the National Short Documentary and Experimental Film Selection, followed by post-screening discussions with the filmmakers.
At 14:00, audiences will have several options across different venues. The National Short Fiction Selection and Lorena Luciano’s widely acclaimed documentary Nuns Against the Vatican will return to the screen. Discussions with the short film teams will follow the fiction programme, while producer Filippo Piscopo and Sister Vida will join audiences after the documentary screening. Simultaneously, at Etimesgut CKM, acclaimed filmmaker Yeşim Ustaoğlu’s feature Clair-Obscur (Tereddüt) will be screened, followed by a conversation with the director.
The excitement continues on 6 June with another packed programme of screenings, discussions, and special events.
Saturday’s programme opens at 11:00 with Karla and the National Short Documentary and Experimental Film Selection, followed by post-screening discussions with the filmmakers.
At 14:00, audiences will have several options across different venues. The National Short Fiction Selection and Lorena Luciano’s widely acclaimed documentary Nuns Against the Vatican will return to the screen. Discussions with the short film teams will follow the fiction programme, while producer Filippo Piscopo and Sister Vida will join audiences after the documentary screening. Simultaneously, at Etimesgut CKM, acclaimed filmmaker Yeşim Ustaoğlu’s feature Clair-Obscur (Tereddüt) will be screened, followed by a conversation with the director.
The 16:30 programme will feature Ghost School, directed by Seemab Gul, a film that approaches pressing social issues through the eyes of a young girl. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. Also screening in this section is Near Paradise by Yulia Lokshina, once again accompanied by a post-screening discussion with the director.
At 19:00, audiences will have the opportunity to watch How Nice to See You Alive, the cult classic by celebrated Brazilian filmmaker Lucia Murat, a deeply personal work rooted in memory and lived experience. A conversation with the director will follow the screening. The same slot will also feature The Education of Jane Cumming, after which producer Nadira Murray will join audiences for a discussion.
The festival day concludes with the 21:30 screenings. Cinema Jazireh, directed by Gözde Kural, will be presented alongside a conversation with members of the film’s creative team, while At the Head of the Dry Stone, co-directed by Yeşim Ustaoğlu and Selen Heinz, will close the day’s programme, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.
Another key event added to the evening programme is the panel “Living Through Cinema: Women, Memory and Resistance in the Middle East,” taking place at 19:30 at Kült Kavaklıdere Cinema. Moderated by Tuğçe Kutlu, Research Assistant at Ankara University, the session will bring together internationally recognised filmmakers Seemab Gul and Gözde Kural. The discussion will explore the struggles of women filmmakers in the Middle East, both behind and in front of the camera, the role of cinema in sustaining collective memory, and its transformative power in making cultures of resistance visible.
Karla / Christina Tournatzés
Set in 1960s Germany, the film follows a twelve-year-old girl determined to find her voice and seek justice in the face of domestic abuse. Through a realistic and sensitive lens, Karla portrays a young protagonist’s struggle for agency and self-determination.
Nuns vs. the Vatican / Lorena Luciano
In this dynamic documentary, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Lorena Luciano investigates cases of abuse long overlooked within the Catholic Church and follows the courageous nuns who challenge a deeply entrenched culture of silence in pursuit of justice. Producer Filippo Piscopo and Sister Vida will participate in a post-screening discussion.
Ghost School / Seemab Gul
Drawing inspiration from the reality of thousands of abandoned “ghost schools” across Pakistan, the film examines child marriage, child labour, and the structural barriers faced by women through the perspective of a young girl. Director Seemab Gul will join audiences following the screening.
Around Paradise / Yulia Lokshina
Opening a window onto lives lived in isolated landscapes and on the margins of society, the film explores the fragile orders individuals construct within their own worlds and their often-invisible conflicts with larger social systems. A Q&A with the director will follow the screening.
How Nice to See You Alive / Lucia Murat
Blending fiction and documentary elements, this landmark work by Lucia Murat draws upon the director’s own experiences and those of her contemporaries. Addressing dictatorship, personal memory, and the legacy of torture, the film tells the poignant story of individuals who choose remembrance in defiance of collective forgetting. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the director.
Jane Cumming’s Education / Sophie Heldman
Set in Scotland in 1810, this compelling period drama centres on two women who establish a boarding school for girls, only to find their lives upended by scandal. Based on court records, the film traces a decade-long struggle for justice. Producer Nadira Murray will participate in a post-screening discussion.
Cinema Jazireh / Gözde Kural
After losing her family in a Taliban attack, Leyla disguises herself as a man and embarks on a perilous journey in search of her missing son, Omid. Torn between protecting an innocent child and pursuing her own quest, she navigates a landscape shaped by violence and uncertainty. Members of the creative team will join audiences for a discussion following the screening.
On Dry Rock / Selen Heinz ve Yeşim Ustaoğlu
Bringing together contemporary works by women filmmakers in Turkish cinema, the film explores emotional confinement, questions of belonging, and the psychological complexities of its characters through a striking visual language. Directors Selen Heinz and Yeşim Ustaoğlu will participate in a post-screening conversation.
Press Kit Drive Link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wet4eImykRhZ__f13Fe7VBlpHuRiryYh
Press Contact
Katayoun Dadashi
Press Officer
T: +90 552 282 79 34
E: basin@ucansupurge.org.tr
