Competition
13 films
14 countries – 2 from Turkey
11–15 October 2023 · BOZCAADA
BIFED2023
Fifty films, many places, one shared planet. The films, awards and people of BIFED 2023 come together again in the festival’s collective memory.
Explore the films
- ≈500
- film submissions
- 100+
- submission countries
- ≈48%
- films directed by women
- 6,770
- reported views
01
Festival in numbers
Each submission brought a voice from another place. The selection breakdown and figures reported by the festival:
GAIA
10 films
5 countries – 5 from Turkey
Panorama
21 films
16 countries – 8 from Turkey
Special Screenings
6 films
3 countries, 5 from Turkey
Films that have applied: Around 500 movies from more than 100 countries
Around %48 of the selected films belong to directors that are women. The films have been shown with English and Turkish subtitles.
The countries represented at the festival:
Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, USA, Uzbekistan
02
Audiences & venues
Two venues opened their screens, bringing audiences together with films and filmmakers.
6770
Community Center
150 seats (28 screenings – 3920 viewers)
Salhane
75 seats (30 screenings – 2325 viewers)
Opening ceremony, award ceremony and screenings of the winners: 525 viewers
03
Events
Workshops, conversations and encounters around the screenings. This is a record of the past festival, not an upcoming programme.
- 12 October10:00Collective Film Reading WorkshopLalehan ÖcalGümüş Otel
- 12 October13:40REEF – Frames from LebanonPresented by Eliane RahebSalhane
- 12 October15:00ReceptionSalhane
- 12 October16:00We Will ReturnBerna Küpeli, Cevat Ezgin, Gürcan Öztürk, Ulaş BeşoklarHalk Eğitim Merkezi
- 13 October11:00The Sun Rises Early in a Village That ReadsAyten Zara, Mine EkinciGümüş Otel
- 13 October13:00Faces of AntakyaNesime KaratekeSalhane
- 13 October13:50Women ResistEvrim KepenekSalhane
- 13 October16:00Creating a New Narrative for Leaving the AnthropoceneBarış Onur Örs, Günnur Aktoros, Ada SosyalGümüş Otel
- 13 October18:00Coral, Sea Cucumber and Sponge Formations around BozcaadaBarış ÖzalpGümüş Otel
- 14 October15:00When an Earthquake Becomes a Disaster: Seeking Responsibility in AntakyaTuğçe Tezer, Mustafa ÖzçelikGümüş Otel
- 14 October15:00Land of Olives: AnatoliaMurat Narin, Ethem ÖzgüvenZübeyde Hanım Parkı
- 14 October16:00Bauhaus Spring and Summer School DocumentariesPresented by Ayşegül Selenga Taşkent and Deliza FlaccaventoSalhane
04
Awards
The stories that stay with us are also remembered through the jury’s awards.
Breaking Social
Fredrik Gertten, Sweden
The Waiting
Volker Schlecht, Germany
Delikado
Karl Malakunas, Philippines, Australia, USA, UK, Hong Kong
Aralkum
Mila Zhluktenko, Daniel Asadi Faezi, Uzbekistan
Bread and Butter
Meryem Ateş, Hakan Varankaya, Turkey
Nuclear Nomads
Kilian Armando Friedrich, Tizian Stromp Zargari, Germany
05
Festival selection
The complete selection listed in the report. Explore film titles, directors and production details.
Competition
13 films- Breaking Social, Fredrik Gertten, Sweden, 2023, 92’
- Burial, Emilija Škarnulytė, Lithuania, Norway, 2022, 60’
- Delikado, Karl Malakunas, Philippines, Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, 2022, 93’
- Formaldehyde, Oğuz Yenen, Turkey, 2022, 9’
- Mancorna, Mert Gökalp, Turkey, Greece, 2023, 24‘
- Landen, Vanessa Nica Mueller, Germany, Lebanon, 2023, 64’
- Long Distance Swimmer – Sara Mardini, Charly W. Feldman, Germany, 2022, 88’
- Matter Out of Place, Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Austria, 2022, 105’
- The Forgotten Nuclear Victims, Suliane Favennec, France, 2023, 55’
- The Waiting, Volker Schlecht, Germany, 2023, 15’
- To Pick a Flower, Shireen Seno, Philippines, 2021, 17’
- Two Rivers, Anaïs Taracena & Laura Bermúdez, Guatemala – Honduras, 2022, 44’
- X Trillion, Eleanor Church, UK, 2023, 69’
GAIA Student Competition
10 films- It’s Just Sea, Furkan Alperen Demir, Turkey, 2021, 23′
- Aralkum, Mila Zhluktenko, Daniel Asadi Faezi , Uzbekistan, 2022, 13’
- Coliving: Symbiosis in Blue, Gülin Ören, Batukan Ceyran, Emre Traş, Kerem Sürmeli,Murat Kalaoğlu, Turkey, 2023, 6′
- Hazelnut Fish, Selim Uyar, Turkey, 2022, 20’
- La Cen, Julius Dommer, Cuba, Germany, 2021, 76’
- Nuclear Nomads, Kilian Armando Friedrich, Tizian Stromp Zargari, Germany, 2023, 73’
- Salty Life, Sayım Emrealp Hazar, Turkey, 2023, 20’
- Still Waters, Kevin Koch, Germany, 2022, 29’
- When The Mountain Rumbles, Alba Bresolí Aliberch, Spain, 2022, 28′
- Bread and Butter, Meryem Ateş, Hakan Varankaya, Turkey, 2023, 19’
Special Screenings
6 films- Song of the Flies, Ana Maria Vallejo, Colombia, Germany, Czechia, 2022, 43′
- Phoenix, Ethem Özgüven, Ulaş Beşoklar, Turkey, 40′
- Fatma of the Forest, Suha Arın, Turkey, 28′
- Eko Eko Eko, İlkay Nişancı, Turkey, 56′
- The Waves On Your Face – Empty Island, Özlem Yılmaz, Turkey, 56′
- From Mediterranean to Aegean: Tahtacılar, Uğurcan Taylan Adıyaman, 45′
Panorama
21 films- 300 Days of Sun, Jude Chehab, Lebanon, Canada, 2022, 13′
- Achewiq, the Song of the Brave Women, Elina Kastler, France, Algeria, 2022, 16′
- A World to Shape, Ton van Zantvoort, The Netherlands, 2022, 52‘
- Colette and Justin, Alain Kassanda, France, Belgium, 2022, 88′
- Eating Up Easter, Sergio Mata’u Rapu, USA, Chile, 2018
- Eulogy for the Dead Sea, Polina Teif, Canada, 2022, 81′
- Flames in Pines, Utku Kuran, Turkey, 2023, 9′
- Hatay: April 7th – 24th 2023, İmre Azem, 2023, 30’
- Plastic Fantastic, Isa Willinger, Germany, 2022, 102′
- Sew to Say, Rakel Aguirre, United Kingdom, Spain, 2022, 69′
- Sortes, Mónica Martins Nunes, Portugal, Germany 2021, 39‘
- Taner Öngür’s Planet, Gökçe Kaan Demirkıran, Turkey, 2022, 46′
- The Illusion of Abundance, Erika Gonzalez Ramirez & Matthieu Lietaert, Belgium, Colombia 2022, 60‘
- The Leopard’s Tribe, Miriam Chandy Menacherry, India, 2022, 40′
- The Negotiators – How to make peace, Rosalind Bain, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, 2022, 86’
- The Returned, Pieter De Vos, Belgium, 2021, 35′
- Villages Destroyed for Coal in Muğla, Kerem Topuz, Turkey, 2023, 50′
- Nomad Women, Kader Çetintaş, Turkey, 2022, 32′
- In Due Time, Murat Yüksel, Turkey, 2022, 16′
- Did You See? Şevval Bozacı, Turkey, 2021, 14′
- Beyond the Olive Grove, Mervan Serhat Sarışın, Turkey, 2022, 19′
06
Juries
Different experiences and perspectives met in front of the same screen.
07
Pre-selection team
The pre-selection team who helped shape the programme.
- Beyza Aksoy
- Dominique Peftitseli
- Ecem Bora
- Esengül Kolcuoğlu
- Irene Jadraque
- Kyriakos Peftitseli
- Pedro García Santos
- Petra Holzer
- Süleyman Evran
08
Festival design
The festival’s visual memory: trophies, tote bags and design work.
Award Trophy:
Mustafa Erol
Festival Totebag:
Çiğdem Akdoğan
09
Festival team
The work behind the encounters. Roles and contributors as credited in the report.
- Festival President
- Dr. Hakan Can Yılmaz
- Festival Coordinator
- Ethem Özgüven
- Festival Director
- Petra Holzer
- Festival Director Assistant
- Süleyman Evran
- Event Coordinator
- Selen Şentürk
- Translation
- Merve Atansay, Sabah Deniz Gülensoy, Şevval Dolanbay
- Graphic Design
- Ece Kurtboğan Kıray
- Press Advisor
- Mustafa Dermanlı
- Press Relations
- Beyza Aksoy
- Webmaster
- Egecan Çitim
- Technical Coordinator
- Levent Menekay
- Social Media
- Çiğdem Akdoğan, Melisa Uğur
- Film Programming
- Petra Holzer
- Pre-selection Team
- Beyza Aksoy, Dominique Peftitseli, Ecem Bora, Esengül Kolcuoğlu, Irene Jadraque, Kyriakos Peftitseli, Pedro García Santos, Petra Holzer, Süleyman Evran
OFFICE
- Office Coordination
- Aksel Anıl, Egecan Çitim, Süleyman Evran
- Press Advisor
- Mustafa Dermanlı
- Press Relations
- Beyza Aksoy, Ece Ünver
- Social Media Team
- Çiğdem Akdoğan, Melisa Uğur
- Social Media Graphic Design
- Çiğdem Akdoğan
- Events & Accommodation
- Işılay Embel, Selen Şentürk
- Jury Coordination
- Selen Şentürk
- Venue
- Ece Ünver, İpek Yardımcı, Oğulcan Kirazoğlu, Nilsu Tokman, Sarp Özen, Umut Can Dalgıç
- Film Traffic
- Aksel Anıl, Işılay Embel, Süleyman Evran
- Subtitle
- Eceworx – Berivan Alabuğa
- Subtitle Translation Additional Team
- Aslı Takanay, Bora Ergün, Fügen Uğur, İnan Mayıs Aru, İpek Yardımcı, Melek Memiş
- Film Screening Team
- Unitech – Özgür Oğuz Tuna
- Award Design
- Mustafa Eren
- Totebag Design
- Çiğdem Akdoğan
- Festival Spots
- Ethem Özgüven
CATALOGUE
- Design
- Ece Kurtboğan
- Catalogue Editing
- Sarvenaaz Ghafari
- Content & Translation
- Altay Erlik, Beyza Aksoy, Merve Atansay, Sabah Deniz Gülensoy, Şevval Dolanbay, Yaprak Aydın
- Redaction
- Yaprak Aydın
TECHNICAL TEAM
- Webmaster
- Egecan Çitim
- Technical Coordination
- Levent Menekay
- Photo, Editing and Video
- Adil Çetinkaya, Aksel Anıl, Ege Davrak, Irene Jadraque
OPENING and AWARD CEREMONY
- Coordination & Planning
- Merve Atansay, Şevval Dolanbay
- Hosts
- Fulya Yazgan, Şevval Dolanbay
- Translation
- İpek Yardımcı, Oğulcan Kirazoğlu
- Municipality Coordination
- Hande Kırıcı
10
Sponsors & supporters
The festival was made possible together, with support from organisations and the island community.
Main Sponsor
- Demirer Enerji Üretim
Sponsors
- Mey Diageo
- Aral Tatil Çiftliği
- Avusturya Kültür Ofisi
- Deliasma
- Fersan
- Rengigül Konuk Evi
- Talentra
- TAKK
Supporters
- Coffeeshelter
- Çamlıbağ
- Çayeka
- Efes – Kendine Has
- İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi / İletişim Fakültesi
- İsveç Konsolosluğu
- İzmir Fransız Enstitüsü
- Salhane
- Vahit’in Yeri
- Yakamoz
Partners
- Kadıköy Sinematek
- Bozcaada Belediyesi
Accommodation Sponsors:
- Ada Evi Mu
- Adamarin
- Akol Hotel Çanakkale
- Alesta
- Aral Tatil Çiftliği
- Bademlik Otel
- Bağbadem
- Bozcaada Butik Pansiyon
- Bozcaada Hotel Vitis
- Eflatun Konukevi
- Gümüş Otel
- Hera Butik Otel
- İkizler Otel
- Kale Pansiyon
- Kalyopi Otel
- LongeVita Bağ Evi
- Mavi Karga
- Nefes Ada Evleri
- Nilada
- Şeyda Butik Otel
- Umutdenizi Konukevi
Venue Sponsors:
- Community Center
- Gümüş Otel
- Salhane
- Tenedion
Transportation Sponsors:
- İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi
- Skoda
Press Sponsors:
- Açık Radyo
- Birgün
- Bozcaada Haber
- CineDergi
- Evrensel
- Haber Bozcaada
- Magma
- Mendirek
- Yeni Film
- Yeşilist
Thanks
- Ali Kurt
- Ahmet Aral
- Arzu Aral
- Çiçek Pastanesi
- Emine Öz
- Fatma Öz
- Gamze Nakkaşoğlu
- Günay Yurdakul
- Günnur Aktoros
- Leyla Çapan
- Muharrem Yıldız
- Mustafa Tamyürek
- Özcan Germiyanoğlu
- Özlem Özen
- Pınar Akıskalıoğlu
- Postane (İstanbul)
- Reşat Kavak
- Serdar Gürmen
- Tuğrul Ağırbaş
- Tülay Tanrıvermiş
- Türkan Çim Işık
- Ülker Aral
- Velidede
- Zafer Başar
- Zeycan Alkış
11
Stronger together
BIFED is a member of Green Film Network.
12