Istanbul’s Bosphorus Film Festival opens with Umm Kulthum biopic, 60 films – Türkiye Today
Istanbul’s Bosphorus Film Festival opens with Umm Kulthum biopic, 60 films
The opening ceremony of the 14th Bosphorus Film Festival brings together filmmakers, industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts at Atlas Cinema in Istanbul, Türkiye, Nov. 8, 2026. (AA Photo)
Istanbul’s 14th Bosphorus Film Festival opened on Nov. 8 with a screening of “Diva: Umm Kulthum,” a biographical film about the legendary Egyptian singer, kicking off an eight-day program featuring more than 60 films, international competitions and special events through Nov. 15.
Held at Atlas Cinema in Istanbul, the opening ceremony brought together filmmakers, cultural representatives and industry professionals, including Iranian director Majid Majidi, who heads this year’s international feature film jury.
Organized by the Bosphorus Culture and Arts Foundation with support from Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival features national and international feature-length competitions, short films, documentaries and special screenings.
Egyptian music legend opens Istanbul film festival
Directed by Egyptian filmmaker Marwan Hamed and starring Mona Zaki, “Diva: Umm Kulthum” follows the singer’s journey from a poor rural community to becoming one of the Arab world’s most influential musical figures.
The film explores how Umm Kulthum challenged the social and cultural restrictions of her time while building a career that left a lasting mark on Arab music.
The approximately 160-minute production, which had its world premiere at the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival, will also be screened again during the Istanbul event.
Festival President Ogun Sanlier said this year’s selection brings together internationally recognized productions and Turkish films that have competed at festivals in Adana and Antalya, alongside several upcoming premieres.
The program includes 20 feature films competing for the Golden Dolphin awards, with 10 productions each in the national and international competitions. Another 32 films will be presented across the short film and documentary competitions.
Majid Majidi highlights importance of cinema festivals
International jury president Majid Majidi, known for films including “Children of Heaven” and “Sun Children,” emphasized the importance of film festivals in keeping cinema relevant as streaming platforms reshape viewing habits.
Majidi said festivals allow filmmakers and audiences from different countries to exchange ideas and help bring global cinema to wider attention.
He also highlighted the cultural ties between Türkiye and Iran, expressing admiration for Turkish directors Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Semih Kaplanoglu.
Festival Artistic Director Enes Erbay similarly stressed the importance of preserving the shared experience of watching films in theaters, saying the festival had put together a diverse program for audiences.
National feature film jury president Ozer Feyzioglu encouraged filmgoers to dedicate the week to cinema, pointing to the strength of this year’s selection.
Special screenings explore Gaza, Syria and global cinema
Beyond its main competitions, the festival features a special screening program covering international cinema, cultural identity and contemporary social issues.
Among the selected productions are Majidi’s “Sun Children,” Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Minotaur,” Hosam Abu Dan’s “13 Years Old in Gaza,” Emre Esfer’s “Eastern Ghouta: Poisonous Silence” and Rafiki Fariala’s “Congo Boy.”
Other screenings include documentaries and films exploring subjects ranging from Lake Salda in Türkiye to filmmaking and cultural representation.
Sanlier said the inclusion of “13 Years Old in Gaza” reflects the festival’s intention to keep attention on the situation in Palestine.
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Masterclasses and workshops bring filmmakers together
Alongside screenings, the festival will host educational events and industry discussions.
Majidi will lead a masterclass titled “The Art of Portraying Humanity” at Atlas 1948 Cinema on Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m., following a screening of “Sun Children.” The session will explore his filmmaking experience, storytelling techniques and approach to developing characters.
Screenwriter Kerem Deren will also conduct a two-day workshop, “From Script to Screen,” at Marmara Pera Hotel on Nov. 14-15, focusing on character development, dramatic structure, dialogue and scene construction.
Meanwhile, the Bosphorus Talks program will bring together international filmmakers for a panel titled “Decolonizing Cinema: Whose Story, Whose Perspective?” on Nov. 14 at AKM Yesilcam Cinema.
Moderated by academic Cihat Arinc, the discussion will address cultural representation, collective memory, creative freedom and power relations within the international film industry.
Where to watch Bosphorus Film Festival screenings
The 14th Bosphorus Film Festival runs through Nov. 15 at three Istanbul venues: Atlas Cinema, AKM Yesilcam Cinema and World Cinezone Grandpera.
The festival is supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s General Directorate of Cinema, with Anadolu Agency serving as its global communication partner.
The complete screening schedule, special events and ticket information are available on the festival’s official website,www.bogazicifilmfestivali.com.
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