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A growing cultural tradition in southeastern Türkiye has once again brought filmmakers, artists and academics together, as the fourth Gobeklitepe International Film Festival opened in Sanliurfa. Supported by the Metropolitan Municipality and organized by the Gobeklitepe Culture and Arts Association, the festival brings exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and talks under the theme of Karahantepe, one of the key Neolithic archaeological sites in the region.
At the opening held at Vali Kemalettin Gazezoglu Culture and Arts Center, officials underlined Sanliurfa’s transformation into a natural film set thanks to its historic streets and cultural landscape.
The city’s cultural affairs director said that several film and television productions have recently been shot in Sanliurfa, and added that they want visitors to associate the month of November with a film festival hosted at the historic Reji Church, hoping it will boost cultural tourism in the region.
The festival opened with two exhibitions: artist Ismail Baltaci’s collection titled “Gobeklitepe – Ben Sen Onlar” and Habip Diy’s works under the name “Yontulmus Zaman.”
These exhibitions attracted art lovers and paved the way for further cultural engagement. The program also featured a concert by the Harran University Education Faculty Vox Humanis Polyphonic Choir and a talk by director, producer and screenwriter Eylem Kaftan.
Festival Director Mustafa Deniz Dogan explained that after establishing the Gobeklitepe Culture and Arts Association, they began to work towards creating a film festival in Sanliurfa.
He emphasized that local authorities have always supported their efforts and said they have been trying to steadily expand the festival and make it reach wider audiences. He expressed his hope that the festival will continue for many years regardless of who runs it.
The festival, which continues until November 23, offers free screenings, concerts, talks and arts events. On the following day, historian and actress Pelin Batu will take part in a panel titled “The Archaeology of Art,” moderated by Ebru Okutan Akalin. Later, director Murat Firatoglu’s award-winning film “Hemme’nin Oldugu Gunlerden Biri” will be shown to the public.
Participants can view the full program through the official festival website.
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