Watching the “Present” Unfold…
If people were to stop telling stories, that would be the moment when the “present” would be left suspended: in a meaningless, emotionless void between the past and the future… For it is when our lived experiences are shaped into stories and told that they become enveloped in emotion and imbued with meaning.
It is for this reason, perhaps more than any other, that the 12 films featured in the National Feature Film Competition of the 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival hold a distinct significance for all of us. In a world that seems to move ever faster, at a time when many of us are unsure what to feel, the “present” takes on new meanings through the stories told by these films, each with its own unique sensibility and way of thinking. From different perspectives, every film explores the many states of the world and the human condition, offering its own distinctive vision of the “present.”
All 12 films selected from a total of 58 submissions will meet audiences in Türkiye for the first time. Four of these films have already had their world premieres at various international film festivals, while the remaining eight will have their first screenings at our festival. Four films in the selection also carry the particular excitement of being their directors’ debut feature films. Beyond these figures, however, we are delighted that our selection of 12 films, each with its own narrative, generic, and discursive character, will offer audiences in Türkiye a viewing experience shaped by both curiosity and excitement about the current state of our cinema.
Another source of happiness for us is the significant increase, compared with last year, in the number of women directors among the films submitted for selection. We find the growing visibility of women’s labour and perspectives in cinema both exciting and valuable, particularly in terms of the gender equality that an inclusive artistic vision ought to embrace.
Beyond serving as places of encounter, festivals take the pulse of viewing culture and, more often than not, help shape it. With this purpose in mind, we sincerely congratulate all the filmmakers whose work contributed to the films selected for the National Feature Film Competition of the 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, as well as all those who submitted their films for consideration. We look forward to sharing an enjoyable and inspiring festival experience together between 24 and 31 October 2026.
Sincerely,
Perihan TAŞ ÖZ
National Film Coordinator
International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival
