The Akbank Short Film Festival is celebrating its 21st edition this year, bringing cinema enthusiasts together from March 17 to 27. The festival is set to offer a rich program featuring 87 short films and 3 feature films, selected from 2,346 submissions across 73 countries. Showcasing a diverse selection ranging from award-winning films from international festivals to Turkey premieres, the event continues to be a must-attend occasion for film lovers.
Special Screening of Hayat and Guest Appearance by Zeki Demirkubuz
This year’s special guest is Zeki Demirkubuz, one of Turkey’s leading filmmakers. His latest film, Hayat, which was Turkey’s official submission for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards, will be screened as part of the festival. Demirkubuz will also participate in the “Experiences” section, where he will discuss his film career, the filmmaking process, and his approach to cinema. This event presents a unique opportunity for cinephiles to gain insight into the master director’s creative process and thoughts on filmmaking.
Selections and Guests at the Festival
The festival consists of nine main sections: “Festival Shorts,” “Shorts from the World,” “Young Perspectives,” “From Short to Feature,” “Experiences,” “Documentary Cinema,” “Perspective,” “Special Screening,” and “Forum.” These categories will showcase outstanding examples of world cinema and short films offering diverse perspectives.
In the From Short to Feature section, director Vuslat Saraçoğlu, known for her film Borç, will be featured. Her short documentary Müslüm Baba’nın Evlatları (Müslüm Baba’s Children) will also be screened.
The Documentary Cinema category will include Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani, presenting her internationally acclaimed film A Thousand Girls Like Me. Addressing social realities in Afghanistan with a bold perspective, Mani’s screening and discussion will be one of the festival’s key events.
For the Special Screening section, the festival will host Magma – Mostra di Cinema Breve, a renowned Italian short film festival. The festival’s curator, Giulia Iannello, will present a selection highlighting the universal storytelling power of short films.
Screenplay Competition and Workshops
As part of the Forum section, this year’s festival hosts the Short Film Screenplay Competition, which received 534 submissions. The Best Screenplay will be announced during the festival from among eight finalists. This competition aims to support the development of short film scripts and provides an important opportunity for young filmmakers to refine their projects.
In addition to screenings, the festival will feature various workshops and talks that bring together professionals from different disciplines of cinema. These events serve as valuable learning opportunities for film enthusiasts and aspiring industry professionals.
This year’s workshops include:
- Acting with Hazal Türesan
- Screenwriting with Erdi Işık
- Art Direction with Meral Efe Yurtseven & Yunus Emre Yurtseven
- AI Integration in Cinema with Hasan Söylemez
- Poster Design with Berkcan Okar
- Cinematography with Cansu Boğuşlu
- Editing with Oğuz Atabaş
- Producing with Ahmet Şahin
Festival Venues
The 21st Akbank Short Film Festival will take place on both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. Screenings will be held at:
- Akbank Sanat
- Kadıköy Cinema
- Beylikdüzü Atatürk Cultural and Arts Center
To reach a wider audience across Turkey, the festival will also be available online at filmonline.akbanksanat.com, allowing cinema lovers to experience the festival from anywhere.
