37th Turkish Film Days in Munich: A Rich Program of Films, Discussions, and Culture
Munich, April 13 – The 37th Turkish Film Days in Munich are set to captivate audiences from April 17 to April 26 with a diverse program of Turkish cinema. This year’s festival, one of the oldest of its kind in Munich, will showcase eleven feature films, nine documentaries, and eight short films, emphasizing guest appearances, engaging discussions, and a broad spectrum of genres.
The festival aims to foster intercultural dialogue and present the many facets of Turkish culture through the medium of film. The opening film, ‘Uçurtmayi Vurmasinlar – Let the Dragon Fly,’ an award-winning drama from 1989, will be screened at the Kammerspiele. The film tells the poignant story of a political prisoner and a five-year-old child living with their incarcerated mother in a women’s prison. Nur Sürer, the lead actress, is expected to attend the opening as a guest of honor.
Festival Venues and Program Highlights
While the opening film will be shown at the Kammerspiele, subsequent screenings will take place at the Royal Filmpalast on Goetheplatz and the Gasteig HP8, continuing a long-standing tradition. Almost all films will be presented in their original Turkish language with German or English subtitles, ensuring accessibility for a wider audience.
Beyond the film screenings, the festival offers a rich supporting program. A festival party is scheduled for April 17 at the Conviva in the Kammerspiele’s Blue House. Additionally, a panel discussion on ‘Women in Film’ and a film workshop for children are planned, both to be conducted in Turkish. These events aim to provide deeper insights into Turkish cinema and engage different age groups.
Turkish Culture in Germany: A Growing Interest
The interest in Turkish culture in Germany has steadily grown since the signing of the recruitment agreement between Germany and Turkey on October 30, 1961, which brought almost a million ‘guest workers’ to Germany. This historical context has paved the way for a vibrant Turkish cultural scene across the country, with numerous festivals, lectures, readings, concerts, and youth programs.
Munich, in particular, is a hub for such initiatives, with various associations and networks actively promoting exchange and intercultural understanding. Other notable events include the ‘Filmfestival Türkei Deutschland’ in Nuremberg, which took place in March, and the ‘largest Turkish open-air festival in Europe’ scheduled for June at the Galopprennbahn in Munich-Riem.
Acclaimed Films and Directors at the Festival
The 37th Turkish Film Days will also feature several critically acclaimed films that have garnered success at international festivals. ‘Öldürdügün Seyler – The Things You Kill,’ a thriller from 2025 that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, will be shown. It tells the story of a university lecturer who harbors a terrible suspicion about his own father. Another Sundance success, ‘DJ Ahmet,’ a tragicomedy about a 15-year-old techno fan, will also be part of the program.
Renowned directors will be present to introduce their works and engage with the audience. Istanbul-based director Pelin Esmer will personally present her film ‘O da Bir Şey mi – And The Rest Will Follow,’ which explores the encounter between a director and a hotel employee. Tolga Karaçelik, a Turkish director based in New York, will attend to present ‘Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer’ – the film with the longest title at the festival. Karaçelik’s English-language black comedy about a retired serial killer features notable stars such as Steve Buscemi and John Magaro.
The 37th Turkish Film Days in Munich promise to be a significant cultural event, offering a unique opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of Turkish cinema and engage in meaningful intercultural dialogue.
Source: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/muenchen-tuerkische-filmtage-kammerspiele-royal-gasteig-li.3455467
