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The renowned International Frankfurt Turkish Film Festival, one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious Turkish film festivals, is set to bring together cinema enthusiasts for its 25th edition in 2025.
Running from June 13 to 18, 2025, the festival will go beyond the silver screen to host a variety of events across different cities and venues, strengthening intercultural ties and engaging a wider audience.
Huseyin Sitki, the president of the festival, expressed his excitement for this milestone anniversary, emphasizing the festival’s growing role in promoting cultural exchange.
"This year, our Turkish project partner is the Intercultural Cooperation and Dialogue Association (KADIM), led by Taha Feyizli. This collaboration further strengthens the festival's commitment to intercultural dialogue, opening the door to new projects and partnerships," Sitki said.
Reflecting on the festival's journey, Sitki added, "We started 25 years ago with a small dream—to build bridges through cinema. Today, we are proud to have shared hundreds of films, thousands of viewers, and countless beautiful memories. Cinema is not only an entertainment medium but also a force that unites, transforms, and provokes thought. The Frankfurt Turkish Film Festival will continue to be the voice of this power, carrying the cultural connections we have created through cinema into the future."
While Frankfurt remains the heart of the festival, the event will spread its wings to other cities, including Offenbach, Wiesbaden, Dietzenbach, Rodgau, Rödermark, Langen, Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, and Miltenberg.
These screenings will bring Turkish cinema to a wider audience. In addition, special events such as open-air screenings, school and prison screenings, senior citizen gatherings, and cultural workshops will be organized to reach different segments of society.
The festival’s theme for 2025 is “Voices from Türkiye, Universal Stories.” This year's focus is not just on films but also on the emotions, experiences, and human-centric stories that cinema tells. This theme underscores the idea that cinema is not only a visual art but also a universal language that strengthens intercultural empathy and creates a shared emotional experience.
A highlight of the festival will be the "Cultural Transnational Cinema Perspectives" workshop and panel series, where emerging filmmakers will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with seasoned directors and producers. This platform aims to foster production and cooperation between Turkish and German filmmakers, supporting the development of new projects.
This year, for the first time, the festival will host a special meeting where participating artists and cinema lovers can come together. This event will emphasize that cinema is not only an experience to be watched but also a space for dialogue and sharing ideas.
The festival will also honor veterans of Turkish cinema who have made significant contributions over the years. Due to various circumstances, some of these icons could not attend the festival in Frankfurt, so the festival decided to present their honorary awards in Türkiye.
One such recipient, Suna Keskin, was honored in a special press event in Türkiye. Another honoree, Ahmet Mekin, will receive his award in the coming days following a medical procedure.
The opening night of the festival on June 14 will also see the presentation of Honorary Awards to Serif Sezer, Biket Ilhan, Guven Kirac, and Erden Alkan.
The evening will also include a special Vefa (Loyalty) Award in memory of the late Rasim Oztekin, who passed away in 2021. His daughter, Pelin Oztekin, will accept the award on his behalf, a moment of reflection and respect for a cherished figure in Turkish cinema.
This year's festival juries include renowned professionals from the film industry:
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