Yunus Emre Institute organizes a “Turkish Cinema Summer School” for 23 young filmmakers from 20 countries in İstanbul.

Having organized hundreds of activities for recognition of Turkey and Turkish culture through its 56 cultural centers around the world, Yunus Emre Institute breaks a new ground in the world.

The Institute, leading a new way within the scope of the “Turkish Summer School” which has been organized for the ninth time this year with the participation of 1000 international students from 118 countries, hosts 23 young candidates of directors, producers and scriptwriters from 20 countries in Turkey within the scope of the “Turkish Cinema Summer School” organized with the cooperation of the İstanbul Şehir University and the contributions of the General Directorate of Cinema.

Twenty-three young filmmakers from 20 countries, including USA, Azerbaijan, Russia, Egypt, Lebanon, Balkan states and Iran, come together with producers, directors, screenwriters, actors and academicians who have contributed to Turkish cinema as well as participating in the academic program prepared by İstanbul Şehir University.

Turkey’s image improves in the world

Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş, the President of Yunus Emre Institute, answered the questions of SABAH (Turkish daily newspaper) in a TV program on 30 July 2018. Stating that young filmmakers will have the chance to get to know Turkish culture and historical places of Turkey in a multicultural environment, Mr. Ateş pointed out that students will see different religions and cultures living in peace in Istanbul, which constitutes the subject of many films. Explaining that participants will have the chance to discover the history of Gaziantep and to see that more than 500 thousand Syrians live in peace with the local community, Mr. Ateş stated that the program will contribute to Turkey’s image in the world stage and to the Turkish economy and tourism in the long-term.

Prejudices will be broken down

Prof. Dr. Peyami Çelikcan, the Chancellor of İstanbul Şehir University, stated that the students would see Istanbul in person and their prejudices would be broken down. Çelikcan said: “The way to prevent conflicts in a world that is gradually being driven to conflict is possible with such cultural relations.”

We need to understand each other

The famous director, Mr. Dervis Zaim, who participated in the project, evaluated the program with the following statements: “It is an important contribution to the representation of the country. People need to understand each other at most rather than to explain themselves. They should put themselves in somebody’s shoes and try to understand what he or she feels.”

Interview with Türkan Şoray and Ediz Hun

“Turkish Cinema Summer School” brought Yeşilçam’s famous names Türkan Şoray and Ediz Hun together with foreign guests and a large audience.

In an interview program moderated by Prof. Dr. Peyami Çelikcan, the Chancellor of İstanbul Şehir University, on 02 August 2018, the famous names shared their experiences and memories of Turkish cinema and cinema adventures with young filmmakers.

The famous actress Türkan Şoray expressed that the foreign participants chose one of the most exclusive professions in the world and that they would be very happy due to this choice in the future. Explaining that she has played a leading role in more than 230 films including some of the most important films of Turkish cinema and she has directed 5 films so far, Şoray stated that the experience of directing a movie has contributed to her life in a different way. After the interview, Türkan Şoray presented her book, “My Cinema and Me”, in which she wrote up her own story, to young guests.

On the other hand, Ediz Hun emphasized that the cinema will be moved forward through young people. He also underlined that this branch of art should not be considered as a cinema screen solely, but it also covers a wider area such as new kinds of video, documentary and animation.

They discover the Turkish cinema on-site

In the program starting at the Dragos Campus of İstanbul Şehir University, the participants will take lessons from significant names in Turkish cinema history on Turkish film screenings and analysis, turning points in Turkish cinema history and many more. During the summer school, field visits will be made to various places including Cinema and Television Department of Mimar Sinan University, Cinema and Theater Museum of Türker İnanoğlu Foundation, Turkish Cinema Researches and SEKA Film Studios.

Also, important films of the Turkish cinema will be screened for 23 guests from 20 countries, including USA, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, France, South Africa, Croatia, Netherlands, UK, Iran, Italy, Montenegro, Kosovo, Lebanon, Hungary, Egypt, Poland, Romania, Russia and Serbia.

Short Film Contest

Students will shoot a short film about their experience and observations in İstanbul and Turkey through the program held from 30 July to 12 August 2018. The students ranking top 3 in the contest will be rewarded.

If these students participating in the program which has been organized for the first time in the world make a co-production with Turkey, the General Directorate of Cinema will support this project.