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Turkish-origin German filmmaker Ilker Catak’s political drama Yellow Letters (Sari Zarflar) won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, one of the world’s leading cinema events, at Saturday’s awards ceremony in Berlin.
The festival’s Jury Grand Prize also went to Turkish director Emin Alper for his film Liberation (Kurtulus), adding to Turkish filmmakers’ strong presence at this year’s Berlinale.
The Golden Bear is the highest award given at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) and is presented each year to the best film in the main competition.
Yellow Letters follows a couple, Derya and Aziz, played by Ozgu Namal and Tansu Bicer, whose lives fall apart after they lose both their jobs and their home in one night.
The film shows how they try to rebuild their lives with their 13-year-old daughter, Ezgi, caught between holding on to their ideals and simply getting by.
Shot in Berlin and Hamburg, the cities are not just settings but play an active role in shaping the family’s experience.
Namal, who was nominated for the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance, spoke at a festival discussion where she clarified questions about the film being shot outside Türkiye.
"This is not a performance that cannot be staged or filmed in Türkiye," she said.
She emphasized that the production’s location was a creative decision rather than a necessity. "This is not a film that cannot be shot in Türkiye; it is a work that was chosen to be filmed here," Namal emphasized. "Of course, it offers certain production conveniences, but that does not mean it is something that cannot be done."
Namal added that the filming environment did not alter her acting approach. "I do not think anything would change in the performance. But Ilker’s strong familiarity with Germany, the energy and synergy here, was reflected in front of the camera. Our bringing Turkish energy as well meant these layers came together, and I think that is why such an extraordinary synergy and beauty emerged."
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