Dear People of Antalya, Esteemed Film Lovers,
On behalf of myself and Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, I extend my warmest greetings and deepest respect to you all.
We are delighted to welcome you to another edition of the International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival as we celebrate its 63rd year—a festival that stands as a symbol of Antalya’s cultural identity, a meeting point for the world of cinema, one of Türkiye’s longest-established film festivals, and one of the most respected internationally.
With its rich 63-year legacy, the Golden Orange is once again ready to bring us a festival week filled with cinema, filmmakers, new stories, and highly anticipated film projects. I firmly believe that the passion for cinema that has sustained this festival for generations will be reflected in every aspect of this year’s program.
This year, we have approached our preparations with an even stronger passion for cinema and an unwavering sense of purpose. We have remained dedicated in our commitment to the values of the Golden Orange, placed the unifying power of cinema at the heart of our efforts, and sought out films that engage with the realities of our world, put people and life at their center, and refuse to turn a blind eye to what is happening around us. We have searched for such films, and we have found them.
We will not abandon this passion or determination. Our strong bond with cinema and the Golden Orange will endure.
Last year, we embarked on this journey with our most heartfelt intentions and brought audiences a warm and welcoming festival under the slogan “From the Heart.” This year, we return with a single word that captures our enduring commitment to cinema, our determination, and our resolve to carry this longstanding tradition into the future.
The slogan of the 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival is “Always.”
Because we want the light of cinema to never fade. We believe that this light, which illuminates humanity, human dignity, and life itself, will continue to shine under all circumstances. We want the Golden Orange to draw strength from its past as it moves forward, to reach new generations, and to ensure that our love of cinema is passed down from one generation to the next.
May the light of cinema always be with us.
As always, we have prepared this year’s Golden Orange with dedication, sincerity, and great care. The distinguished director and screenwriter Derviş Zaim has agreed to serve as President of the National Feature Film Competition Jury. A recipient of the Presidential Grand Award for Culture and Arts, and an esteemed filmmaker whose works have earned him the Golden Orange statuette on multiple occasions, Mr. Zaim brings a remarkable artistic legacy to this important role. We are delighted that he has accepted our invitation and joined us on this journey. I extend my sincere thanks to him, and wish him and the jury every success.
On this occasion, I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the distinguished artists who will be contributing to our festival.
This year’s Golden Orange journey will begin on Saturday, 24 October, with our traditional festival parade. We will then gather for the opening ceremony, bringing together the people of Antalya, film professionals, and distinguished figures from the arts and cultural community. Over the following eight days, we will enjoy a vibrant festival program featuring films, conversations, and gatherings centered on the art of cinema.
Our festival will conclude on Saturday, 31 October, with the Awards Ceremony, where we will celebrate outstanding achievements in cinema and present the Golden Orange statuettes to this year’s award recipients.
To ensure that the light of cinema never fades, that it continues to shine, and that everyone has the opportunity to experience the outstanding films in our selection, we are once again keeping ticket prices highly affordable. All children’s film screenings will be free of charge, while discounted tickets will cost just TRY 20 and full-price tickets TRY 50.
We also remain deeply concerned about the wars continuing in the regions neighboring our country. Through a special selection that we have maintained for the past two years, we give a voice to filmmakers working in countries affected by conflict. This year, our selection will bring audiences films from Iran, Palestine, Ukraine, and Lebanon. We are proud that our festival can help bring these filmmakers’ work to wider audiences and offer meaningful support to their voices and stories.
At the same time, we consider supporting young filmmakers and nurturing new ideas among the festival’s fundamental responsibilities. The Student Films Competition for Film Schools and the Antalya Film Forum will once again feature in this year’s program. Our aim is to create opportunities for young people to bring their work to audiences, contribute to the development of new projects, and support the future of Turkish cinema.
This year, our festival committee will honor a number of highly distinguished artists with awards recognizing their outstanding careers, contributions, and achievements. Veteran actress Tilbe Saran and acclaimed actor Menderes Samancılar will receive Honorary Awards, while Suzan Kardeş and producer Abdurrahman Keskiner will be recognized with Labor Awards in tribute to their remarkable careers spanning half a century.
Our Young Filmmaker Achievement Award will go to actor Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu and Leyla Cabas, whose striking performance marks an impressive achievement at the very beginning of her artistic journey. I extend my warmest congratulations to all our award recipients.
Once again this year, the International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival will carry the voice of art rising from Antalya to audiences across Türkiye and around the world. Every film brought to life on the big screen throughout the festival will introduce us to different stories, lives, and emotions, while shedding light on our shared human experience through the universal language of cinema.
As Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, we take great pride in carrying such a distinguished cultural and artistic legacy into the future, standing firmly behind the arts, and championing cinema and the people whose dedication brings it to life.
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to our entire festival team, whose dedication and hard work have made this year’s program worthy of the Golden Orange and whose expertise and commitment have been instrumental throughout the preparations. My sincere thanks also go to our distinguished jury members, all stakeholders across the film industry, and the artists who enrich our festival with their presence and work.
Drawing inspiration from its remarkable 63-year legacy, the Golden Orange will continue its journey, guided by its enduring love of cinema and unwavering determination.
Always with cinema. Always with the arts. Always alongside the people of Antalya and film lovers everywhere.
I look forward to welcoming you to our festival and extend my warmest regards and deepest respect to you all.
