Award-Winning International Students Named at the YTB’s Short Film Festival

Held by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the Short Film Festival came to an end following an award ceremony and a closing gala.

Following an assessment of sixty applicants, awards were presented under various categories. A master class event and a panel discussion were held as part of the two-day festival. The panel discussion was joined by directors and scriptwriters with a background of successful productions who previously studied in Türkiye thanks on a Türkiye Scholarship and now work in their homeland. The festival was coordinated by Afghan director Vega Moqarabi and Italian director Gesufrancesco Petrillo.

The event was attended by YTB President Eren who delivered a speech. Mr. Eren said: “Following their studies in Türkiye, international students have run successful projects under various categories in their home countries, and they have added a lot to Türkiye.”

Mr. Eren informed how 60 applications were submitted to the festival and 30 of the films were shot by international students, and added that 15 films were presented as part of the festival. Mr. Eren noted that one can come across a Türkiye graduate all over the world: ‘No matter what country in the world a businessperson visits today, the Türkiye graduates lead them there and help them overcome the language barrier. Türkiye graduates serve as ministers in their home country. They are the highest tax payers in the business community of their home country. They hold high-level positions in bureaucracy. In addition to their economic inputs, they also help boost sympathy for Türkiye. They have become a voluntary envoy of Türkiye.”

The inaugural speeches were followed by the presentation of the films awarded.

 The ‘Best Film’ award went to the film ‘Chanyrak’ directed by Kyrgyz student Aizada Alymbek, the ‘2^nd Best Film’ award went to the documentary ‘Through the Eyes of Xhelo’ directed by North Macedonian student Besa Tusha, and the ‘3^rd Best Film’ award went to the documentary ‘Loving Bill’ directed by US student Athula Samarakoon.

German student Lahiru Madushanka scooped up the Jury’s Special Award for the film titled “Showboat Sailor”.

Faysal Soysal, Mehmet Lütfi Şen, and Zeynep Esra Kara served as the jurors of the festival.