DIASPORA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST 27-29
Submissions are now open for Diaspora International Short Film Festival organized with the aim of reflecting the diaspora communities that become distinct and diversified in the historical process with the power of artistic production of cinema. The festival will be held at Atlas Cinema on August 27 – 29, 2021 and provide an opportunity to show the traditions and customs of different cultures with the distinctive patterns of diaspora filmmaking.
Submission Deadline for the Competition: July 30, 2021
By the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB); in official partnership with the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), with the support of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Cinema and global communication partner Anadolu Agency, and organized by the Bosphorus Culture and Art Foundation, the Diaspora International Short Film Festival will be held for the first time this year and the submissions are now open. The festival organized with the aim of bringing a new perspective to the culture and art life not only in Turkey, but also diasporas and the countries where diaspora communities live in, will reveal the unifying power of cinema and art on societies. Submissions to the festival, which aspires to bring together at Atlas Cinema on August 27 – 29 the filmmakers of diaspora communities, especially the young today but outstanding and influential of the future, are accepted until July 30, 2021.
Impressive Diaspora Stories Merge with the Narrative Power of Cinema
Short films that realistically and artistically reflect to the screen the life of diaspora communities in the countries they live in will be selected for the competition; and short films completed after January 1, 2020 will be able to submit to the festival. In the submissions to the festival, short films of fiction, animation and experimental with maximum duration of 20 minutes will be able to participate, and productions emphasizing issues such as identity, multiculturalism, multilingualism, multi-belonging, harmony, coexistence, cultural interaction, social tolerance, migration and integration will be taken into consideration when evaluating. In addition, short films that imperil these concepts and approach from a different perspective; that aim at raising awareness by drawing attention to racism, discrimination and xenophobia will also be taken into consideration during the evaluation process of submissions.
Competition Categories and Awards
Diaspora International Short Film Festival has two competition categories for short films. The winner of the Best Film Award in the Films In Foreign Language Category that will accept submissions in languages other than Turkish will be awarded with 5000€, the Special Jury Prize with 2500€, the Second Best Film with 1500€.
And submissions in Turkish and/or in Turkish dialects will be evaluated in the Films In Turkish Category, where the winner of the Best Film Award will be awarded with 5000€, the TRT Special Award with 2500€, the Second Best Film with 1500€.
An Additional Award Comes from the Audiences
Films that are part of Diaspora International Short Film Festival will be competing for an additional award alongside with the category awards. The competition films will be open online at festivalscope.com besides their cinema screenings. Cinephiles who will watch the films either in cinema or via this link will have the opportunity to vote at the festival website diasporafilmfestival.com and will determine the winner of Audience Award worth of 500€.
“We Believe Our Festival will be All Inclusive and Enfolding on the International Level.”
Sharing his opinion about Diaspora International Short Film Festival to be organized for the first time this year, Abdullah Eren, the President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) and of the Diaspora International Short Film Festival, stated that “We have commenced to organize an international diaspora short film festival within the realms of unveiling the common values as well as the differences of diasporas by means of the cinema sector that is one of the mediums where art can be revealed most effectively.” Expressing that the festival will embarking on the stories of people striving to adapt to where they live and not to forget where they came from, Mr. Eren continued his words that “We believe that our festival will be an event in an all inclusive and enfolding presence on the international level.”
“The Festival is Crucial in Releasing the Stories of Turkish and Other Diasporas”
Faruk Güven, the Head of Cinema of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) that is the official partner of the festival, stated that “As the Directorate of Cinema TRT, we are proud to be the supporter of Diaspora International Short Film Festival”. Mr. Güven also expressed the significance of this international festival by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities in releasing the stories of diasporas and especially of Turkish diaspora.
“A New Festival Kicks Off with a Crucial Mission”
The Director of the Diaspora International Short Film Festival organized for the first time this year by the Bosphorus Culture and Art Foundation, Emrah Kılıç said that the aspiration of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) to provide a platform especially to young filmmakers by realizing an international short film festival for diaspora communities is worthwhile. Noting that with Diaspora International Short Film Festival, they will be able to bring various filmmakers from countries all around the world together, Mr. Kılıç stated that “As the Bosphorus Culture and Art Foundation, we are eager to share our experience in the initiation of a new festival carrying significant missions.”
Submission Deadline for the Competition: July 30, 2021!
Submissions to Diaspora International Short Film Festival to be held for the first time this year on August 27 – 29, 2021 in Istanbul are now open on the festival’s website diasporafilmfestival.com until July 30, 2021.