This year, the 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival sets out with the aim of keeping the light of cinema shining “Always.” All details about the festival, which will take place from 24 to 31 October, were shared at a press conference held at Hotel Su.
The press conference for the International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Türkiye’s longest-running film festival, was held at Hotel Su, hosted by Büşra Özdemir, Deputy Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. Moderated by Alpdoğan Esenoğlu, the meeting offered the first details about the festival and was attended by Derviş Zaim, director and Jury President of the National Feature Film Competition; actor Fadik Sevin Atasoy, a member of the International Feature Film Competition jury; Festival Administrative Director Ramazan Demir; ANSET General Manager Canip Can; and Festival Artistic Director Deniz Yavuz.
BÜŞRA ÖZDEMİR: MAY THE LIGHT OF CINEMA ALWAYS BE WITH US
Stating that this year’s festival slogan is “Always,” Büşra Özdemir, Deputy Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, said: “Because we want the light of cinema never to go out. We believe that this light, which illuminates people, humanity and life, will endure under all circumstances. Drawing strength from the Golden Orange’s past, we want to carry its torch into the future, bring it together with new generations, and pass our love of cinema from one generation to the next. May the light of cinema always be with us.”
“We are keeping ticket prices symbolic this year, too, so that the light of cinema never goes out and everyone can watch the important films in our selection,” Özdemir said. She added that children’s films would be screened free of charge, while discounted tickets would cost TRY 20 and full-price tickets TRY 50.
Recalling that the festival has, for the past two years, featured a special selection giving a voice to filmmakers in countries affected by war, Özdemir said: “This year, films from Iran, Palestine, Ukraine and Lebanon will meet cinema lovers in this special selection. We are pleased to support the films made by filmmakers in these regions through our festival.”
Özdemir concluded: “As Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, we take pride in carrying such a deeply rooted cultural and artistic heritage into the future, standing by the arts, and supporting cinema and the people who work in it.”
DERVİŞ ZAİM: FILM FESTIVALS ARE A CITY’S HEARTH
Speaking at the press conference, Derviş Zaim reflected on the festival’s place in his artistic life: “I received my first award in cinema here in 1996. Tabutta Rövaşata had its world premiere here. As the director of a film made 30 years ago, I am very happy to return as jury president.” Comparing the festival to a “hearth,” Zaim continued: “Film festivals are a city’s hearth. People gather around a hearth and talk about themselves. They share their dreams, thoughts and visions of the past and the future. In this sense, festivals are a hearth, too: they show us what kind of life you want, what you think and, more importantly, what you feel. The hearth is where we talk about ourselves, and I want it to reach not only its 63rd year, but also its 73rd, 83rd and 100th years. It is a platform and a celebration that enriches our spirit, and I am happy to be part of it. Festivals that have been held for more than 20 years are now called ‘old’; we should appreciate their value. Keeping them going, through good and bad times, ups and downs, is not easy. Those of us who are responsible for such a legacy must carry it forward.”
FADİK SEVİN ATASOY: I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE
Actor Fadik Sevin Atasoy, a member of the International Feature Film Competition jury, said it was especially valuable that the International Competition features 13 films from 23 countries, adding: “The Golden Orange is our country’s cultural memory.” She recalled receiving her first award at the 42nd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, serving on the jury chaired by Tuncel Kurtiz at the 45th festival, and joining the jury chaired by director Elia Suleiman nine years ago. “I can say that, in terms of cinema, I was born, grew up and developed here,” she said.
THE GOLDEN ORANGE GOES GREENER: THE FESTIVAL’S CARBON FOOTPRINT WILL BE MEASURED
Festival Administrative Director Ramazan Demir shared updates about the festival, noting that, alongside two screenings for people with disabilities, the “Mobile Cinema” initiative covering 16 districts would continue this year. He also announced a new step in the festival’s environmental efforts: “In line with the global COP31 climate summit to be held in Antalya at the end of November, we aim to raise awareness of environmentally friendly film sets and films by collaborating with the Green Sets Are Possible platform. Accordingly, we will begin measuring the festival’s carbon footprint this year, with the goal of reducing it every year. We have therefore reduced printed materials at the festival from this year onward. The festival catalogue and newspaper will now be available entirely in digital format.”
ANSET General Manager Canip Can said: “Building on its deep-rooted history, our festival continues to support cinema, foster film culture and pass this valuable legacy on to future generations. Our aim is to offer a high-quality and enriching experience for everyone, from artists and industry professionals to members of the press and audiences.”
Festival Artistic Director Deniz Yavuz provided detailed information about the programme. He noted that this year would once again bring exciting work to the festival’s core sections: the National Feature Film Competition, International Feature Film Competition, National Short Film Competition, National Documentary Film Competition, Film Schools Student Film Competition, and Film Forum, which will be held for the 13th time. Yavuz also spoke about the festival’s awards:
“Across Film Forum’s two main sections, 27 projects will compete in five categories for a total of TRY 1.5 million in project-development awards. One of Film Forum’s categories is named in honour of Sümer Tilmaç, a valued figure from Antalya. This year, the Best Film in the National Feature Film Competition will receive a cash prize of TRY 5 million, while the total prize money will amount to TRY 11 million.”
THE GOLDEN ORANGE MAKES ITS STANCE ON WAR CLEAR THROUGH ITS JURY AND SPECIAL SECTION
Deniz Yavuz highlighted how the festival is shining a particular light on regions devastated by war through its International Jury and the special selection “ROOTS – LIGHTS, CAMERA” featured in this year’s programme. He continued:
“Our International Jury is chaired by acclaimed Greek cinematographer Andreas Sinanos. It also includes Palestinian actor and producer Yasmine Al-Massri, Ukrainian director and screenwriter Maryna Er Gorbach, and acclaimed Turkish actors Fadik Sevin Atasoy and Nejat İşler, whose work has represented Türkiye on the international stage. In bringing together this distinguished jury, we wanted to connect with filmmakers from regions where war has devastated lives.
Our effort to connect with the tragedies unfolding around us this year is not limited to these two members of our jury. The festival features 13 films in a special selection showcasing work by filmmakers from Palestine, Lebanon, Ukraine and Iran, bringing audiences closer to regions where war is still ongoing. We created this special section using the word “ROOTS” to refer to the histories of these tragedies and to pay tribute to people who continue to live in these conditions. We chose “LIGHTS, CAMERA” to celebrate the work of filmmakers who not only endure these circumstances but continue to create.”
“STAY WITH THE GOLDEN ORANGE, ALWAYS”
Light is indispensable to cinema, and the underlying philosophy of this year’s festival slogan, “Always,” is that “the light of cinema should always remain on.” These days, those who need the light of cinema most may well be artists in regions held captive by war.”
Yavuz noted that film festivals provide vital breathing space at a time when cultural and artistic production has become much more difficult due to economic pressures and harsh living conditions. He concluded: “As we will continue to emphasise strongly this year: always stay with cinema, and always stay with the Golden Orange.”
63RD ANTALYA GOLDEN ORANGE FILM FESTIVAL
– The festival opens on Saturday, 24 October, with its traditional parade. The opening ceremony will take place that evening at Antalya Sports Hall, and the eight-day festival will conclude with the awards ceremony at the Glass Pyramid on Saturday, 31 October.
– The National Jury comprises actors Meryem Uzerli and Fatih Artman, art director Sırma Bradley, musician Rahman Altın, film scholar Elif Demoğlu and editor Aylin Zoi Tinel. The jury, chaired by Derviş Zaim, will evaluate 12 films produced in 2026.
– This year, audiences in Antalya will have the opportunity to see a total of 41 international films at the festival. Forty of these films will have their first screening in Türkiye, while 13 will compete for the Golden Orange statuette. The International Competition films will be evaluated by a jury chaired by cinematographer Andreas Sinanos and comprising Palestinian actor and producer Yasmine Al-Massri, Ukrainian director and screenwriter Maryna Er Gorbach, and actors Fadik Sevin Atasoy and Nejat İşler.
– Ten films will compete in each of the National Short Film Competition and the National Documentary Film Competition. The National Short Film Jury comprises director Hakkı Kurtuluş, editor Melike Kasaplar and director Belkıs Bayrak. The Documentary Film Competition jury consists of director Aslı Akdağ, director and producer Selçuk Metin, and academic Sabire Soytok.
– The jury for this year’s Film Schools Student Film Competition, which has been held for three years, comprises cinematographer Uğur İçbak, art director Natali Yeres and actor Nihan Okutucu. Entries were received from 70 schools across Türkiye that offer film education, and 12 finalists from 12 different schools were selected.
