Monday, June 16, 2025

ZOOM Meeting | Do you See Turkish Festival Dreams


A meeting of hearts and minds working to bring Turkish cinema to North America 

On June 11, 2025, at 7 PM EST, fifteen Turkish cinema enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada gathered on Zoom to share ideas, challenges, and aspirations around launching Turkish film festivals in North America. 

The meeting was hosted by Mr. Erju Akman, an independent film curator and editor of the Turkish Cinema Newsletter. He introduced special guest Mr. Erkut Gömülü, director of the Boston Turkish Film Festival and founder of the longest continuously running Turkish film festival in the U.S. 

Mr. Gömülü opened the floor by inviting each participant to introduce themselves. What followed was an engaging and inspiring discussion among organizers, curators, and community leaders passionate about Turkish cinema. 

From the Pacific Coast to the shores of Lake Michigan, attendees voiced their concerns—chief among them, the challenge of reaching wider audiences while navigating high distribution costs. 

Mr. Gömülü offered practical advice: start small, focus on selecting compelling films, and grow gradually. In the early years, it’s more important to bring rare, high-quality films to local audiences than to invest in expensive features like celebrity appearances. However, as interest builds, organizers might consider inviting Turkish actors and directors to attend in person. 

He emphasized the importance of setting a realistic, conservative budget and exploring all funding avenues—from grants to sponsorships. Contingency funds are essential for unexpected costs, and any surplus should be reinvested into future festivals. 

Several key topics emerged during the discussion: how to choose the right venues, obtain screening rights, navigate funding sources, and market effectively. For many, the biggest challenge is the limited representation—or misrepresentation—of Turkish culture in mainstream North American media. This presents both an obstacle and an opportunity. 

Reaching a large enough audience to cover costs requires a thoughtful strategy. Mr. Gömülü stressed the importance of passion and persistence. He recommended partnering with existing arts and culture festivals, reaching out to academic institutions, and tapping into university communities. Early collaborations with the Harvard Film Archive and Boston University’s College of Fine Arts were critical to his festival’s success. Later, the addition of short film and documentary competitions helped broaden their reach and promote a more nuanced understanding of Turkey and its people. 

The struggle against stereotypes isn’t unique to the Turkish diaspora, but the specifics are. As seen in the success of Iranian American film festivals, cinematic storytelling can entertain and educate, while shifting public perceptions over time. 

Many participants, themselves immigrants, spoke of a dual goal: reconnecting with their cultural roots while also building bridges within their new communities.  

Mr. Gömülü referenced a recent article by Mr. Akman (Turkish Film Festival Articles.pdf / previously provided ), which outlines cost-saving strategies for festival planning—offering yet another valuable tool for aspiring organizers that can help in budgetary considerations. 

A recurring theme throughout the conversation was collaboration. Boston’s partnerships with local colleges, Seattle’s coordination with other ethnic film festivals, and joint initiatives between regions all underscored the power of working together. 

For example, the Seattle Turkish Film Festival (STFF), led by Mr. Semih Tareen, recently supported a Texas-based team in launching their own festival. Mr. Tareen also advocates inter- community outreach exemplified by his collaboration with the Italian Film Festival in Seattle and extended an open offer to support similar initiatives across North America. 

Mr. Tareen shared Seattle’s approach to building an audience: focus on independent films with socially and politically relevant themes that appeal to the public—not just the Turkish community. Their festival screens both features and shorts and often brings over filmmakers, thanks to cost-effective programming and diligent sourcing of independent funds. In some cases, they’ve even hosted world premieres of rare indie films and regularly feature at least 1 filmmaker of acclaimed shorts. 

An especially innovative move by STFF has been its partnership with the Vancouver Turkish Film Festival (VTFF). By scheduling their festivals back-to-back, films and visiting filmmakers can travel from Seattle to Vancouver, maximizing exposure and minimizing cost-provided visas are secured for both countries. 

Many attendees are active volunteers within larger cultural organizations. The team from California, for example, is preparing to celebrate 50 years of community presence in the Golden state. 

Despite this long-standing history, securing arts funding remains a struggle—particularly for Turkish-focused initiatives. Regional collaboration, such as sharing resources between states and provinces, may offer a path forward. 

The one-hour call flew by, packed with thoughtful insights and a spirit of innovation. There was serious discussion of launching a traveling festival, starting on the West Coast, where groundwork between Seattle and Vancouver is already in place. Others proposed seeking out public-private partnerships and academic collaborations to expand reach and access to the arts. 

With these efforts, there is increased access to beloved content that not only deserve wider reach, but platforming these narratives has the added bonus of shinning a positive light on Turkish cinema created both within the Turkish border and beyond. 

The conversation ended on an optimistic note: while the primary barrier to launching Turkish film festivals remains funding, there are many tested and emerging pathways to success. Veterans like Mr. Gömülü, Mr. Akman, and Mr. Tareen encouraged continued dialogue, mentorship, and cooperation—planting the seeds for a vibrant future for Turkish cinema in North America. 

 

FUTURE ZOOM MEETINGS ARE PLANNED TO BE CONDUCTED IN TURKISH / ALL RELATED CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE IN ENGLISH. 

Ercument  Akman
Washington DC

T: 703 868 4312

E: eackman#gmail.com
maviboncuk.blogspot.com

turkfilm.blogspot.com

Minutes recorded and written by Billie Akman to be issued to all registrants and attendees.


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