The key facts

  • The festival opened on November 9 at the historic Atlas cinema with a screening of 'Diva: Umm Kulthum' about the Egyptian singer.
  • Until November 15, more than 60 feature, documentary and short films from Turkey and other countries will be shown.
  • The jury of the international feature film competition is headed by Majid Majidi, director of the Oscar-nominated film 'Children of Heaven'.

Opening and program

The 14th Bosphorus Film Festival opened in Istanbul on Sunday. The ceremony took place at the historic Atlas cinema, where the biographical film 'Diva: Umm Kulthum' about the legendary Egyptian singer was screened. The event is organized by the Bosphorus Culture and Arts Foundation with the support of Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. According to Anadolu, more than 60 films will be shown until November 15 — feature, documentary and short films from Turkey and other countries. Screenings will take place at several venues across the city, and the full program has been published on the festival's website.

Jury and special events

The jury of the international feature film competition is headed by Iranian director Majid Majidi, known for his Oscar-nominated film 'Children of Heaven'. In an interview with Anadolu, he emphasized the role of festivals in the era of growing streaming services: according to him, they help preserve cinema and bring together filmmakers and audiences from different cultures. 'Different ideas and cultures converge here, which makes a great contribution to the development of world cinema,' he said. The program includes special screenings, including Majidi's film 'The Sun Children' and films about Palestinians in Gaza. On November 9, the director will hold a master class; screenwriting workshops and panel discussions are also planned. Anadolu is the festival's global communication partner.