Newsletters
Türkiye’s 4th Gobeklitepe International Film Festival came to a close in Sanliurfa, where films from Türkiye, Iran, and Spain picked up top awards during a ceremony held at the historic Reji Church, now serving as the Vali Kemalettin Gazezoglu Cultural and Arts Center.
The festival, supported by Sanliurfa Metropolitan Municipality and organized by the Gobeklitepe Culture and Arts Association, wrapped up with a piano performance that set a warm tone for the award night.
Speaking at the ceremony, Merve Ofluoglu, the municipality’s Director of Culture and Tourism, said they aimed to keep the city’s film scene vibrant, noting that promoting Sanliurfa’s cultural identity remained essential. She added that cinema continued to play a key role in achieving this.
Festival Director Mustafa Deniz Dogan thanked the filmmakers, guests, and supporters and invited the audience to return next year for the fifth edition of the event.
A jury comprising well-known Turkish actors Erkan Can, Guven Kirac, Mazlum Cimen, and filmmaker Eylem Kaftan evaluated the entries across multiple categories.
In the international competition, Spain’s Santiago Danel Olivera won Best Director for When I Grow Up, while Iran’s Mostafa Yeganeh received Best Screenplay for Just A Fist.
The Best Film award went to Iranian director Mohammed Ghorbani for Lost In Language.
In Türkiye’s national competition, Hazal Beril Cam earned Best Screenplay for Sinek Gibi, and Ahmet Togac was named Best Director for Ac Acina.
The Best Film award went to "105-33," directed by Onur Demircivi.
A signature part of the festival, the archaeology-themed documentary section, once again underscored the link between cinema and cultural heritage.
This year’s Klaus Schmidt Documentary Award was presented to director Eleonora Tukharelli for Frescoes of The Flooded Monastery... or How Lisa Saved, a work that explores submerged heritage through a personal narrative.
1 min read
