At the 76th International Berlin Film Festival, the most prestigious award, the Golden Bear, was given to İlker Çatak’s film Yellow Letters. The Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize went to Emin Alper for his film Salvation.
İlker Çatak’s Yellow Letters tells the story of two theatre artists, Derya (Özgü Namal) and Aziz (Tansu Biçer), who lose their jobs due to the pressures of an authoritarian regime in Turkey. Offering a powerful allegory of authoritarian oppression, the film focuses on contemporary Turkey. The film was shot in Germany, with Berlin and Hamburg standing in for Ankara and Istanbul.
In his acceptance speech, İlker Çatak emphasized the need to stand together against autocratic regimes around the world, saying, “Let us fight them, not each other.”
A Call of “You Are Not Alone” for Imprisoned Figures
Salvation, directed by Emin Alper, focuses on the escalating violence following the return of a family from exile to a mountainous region. The film was awarded the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize.
In his speech, Emin Alper delivered messages of solidarity to people living under oppression and in conditions of conflict around the world, as well as to imprisoned figures. Addressing Palestinians struggling to survive under harsh conditions in Gaza, Alper said, “You are not alone.” He offered the same words of support to people living under repression in Iran, and to Kurds who have been struggling for their rights for many years in the Middle East, especially in Rojava. He said, “My people, you are not alone.”
Referring to those imprisoned in Turkey, Alper added: “My dear friend Çiğdem, who has been in prison for four years, you are not alone. Tayfun, Can, and Mine, you are not alone either. Osman Kavala, who has been in prison for eight years, Selahattin Demirtaş for nine years, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and all other mayors currently in prison — you are not alone.”
