The Vancouver Turkish Film Festival runs from November 21st to 24th in 2024. It features an opening gala reception and a number of film screenings.
Films at the festival are in Turkish, but with English subtitles, so they can be enjoyed by everyone. The films are meant for audiences who are ages 19 and older. Events like the opening gala and any panel discussions are all in English.
In 2024 the festival celebrates its 11th year!
This article includes the following information about the festival:
When and Where | Thursday Night Opening Gala Reception | Friday Short Film Screenings | Saturday and Sunday Film Screenings | Other Information
For the event’s official website, visit vtff.ca.
The 11th Annual Vancouver Turkish Film Festival
The Vancouver Turkish Film Festival celebrates its 11th anniversary in 2024. At the festival there is an opening gala reception at the VIFF Centre.
The 2024 festival is presented by the Turkish Canadian Society and SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs. Most of the screenings take place at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts which is at the Simon Fraser University Vancouver Campus at 149 West Hastings Street.
When and Where
In 2024 festival events are on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of November 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th.
The Opening Gala Reception takes place on the Thursday at the VIFF Centre at 1181 Seymour Street. There was also a film screening that night last year, whether or not that’s the case again in 2024 is to be confirmed as of late October.
Incidentally, the VIFF Centre is also home to the Vancouver International Film Festival (which is why it has the VIFF name).
On Friday, November 22nd, there is the presentation of the Vancouver Turkish Film Festival Shorts at Cineworks, located at 1131 Howe Street.
On the Saturday and Sunday of November 23rd and 24th, there are feature film screenings at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. That venue’s address is 149 West Hastings Street (which is just a few blocks from Gastown).
Below are more details about the happenings on each day of the festival in 2024.
Thursday Night Opening Gala Reception
On November 21st, 2024, there is the Opening Gala Reception and Film Screening. This takes place at the Vancity Theatre (or VIFF Centre).
The event last year started at 6:00 pm, with opening speeches at 8:00 pm. Details for 2024 should be similar. The gala is a fancy affair and includes a bar, a toast and Turkish food.
At the opening reception event last year there was also the screening of the film Black Night/Karanlık Gece by Özcan Alper. Whether or not there will be a screening at the gala this year is TBC.
For the festival’s official website, visit vtff.ca.
Friday Short Film Screenings
At the 2024 festival there is a short film night at Cineworks in downtown Vancouver. The night begins at 6:00 pm and features 13 films. They range anywhere from six to 25 minutes long. There’s an intermission break halfway through the evening as well.
As of late October, tickets are not yet on sale. Below is a list of the films being shown. All of them are shown in Turkish with English subtitles.
- The Longest Night – a man has to share a bed with his brother-in-law during an unbearably hot night
- Cheers to the End – a father insists on one final family dinner during an apocalypse.
- The Consultant – set in a dystopian future where each family is assigned one member who must make all decisions for them.
- Gukla – a psychological thriller set in an abandoned mansion.
- Minik: My Mother’s Short Story – director Mert İnan tells the story of his mother’s hardships in a short documentary.
- When the Shift Ends – a film about a woman who believes she’s working her first day at a call centre.
- Kadikoy: Town of the Blind – a short documentary set in Istanbul.
- The Bomb – a woman is confronted by gang members who kidnapped her husband.
- Between Delicate and Violent – an experimental film that touches on family trauma.
- Passengers – a group of people wait for a train at a station, and come to a collective realization.
- In His Fortress – a woman is confronted by grief while cleaning out the house of her recently deceased father.
- The Loop of Ouroboros – a woman goes on an inner journey in a mythological world.
- Spiral – a woman undergoes hypnosis following her arrest for being found next to a dead body.
Saturday and Sunday Film Screenings
A number of films are shown on the Saturday and Sunday of November 23rd and 24th at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts.
Films on Saturday, November 23rd, 2024
Films on the Saturday include The Good Death (at 11:00 am), Uncle Ali (at 11:00 am), Rosinante (at 12:30 pm), Oya (at 3:15 pm), and Hayat (at 6:00 pm).
The Good Death (at 11:00 am)
The film runs for 20 minutes and is a documentary about the Wish Ambulance Foundation, which is a hospice care organization that tries to ensure patients can say goodbye to their life in a “good” way.
The documentary focuses on the last wishes of a man named Wim Beuving, and the volunteer who aims to make those wishes come true.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles and is suitable for adults ages 19+.
Uncle Ali (at 11:00 am)
This 30-minute long documentary centres on a man named Ali Olgun who becomes a celebrated figure in Kadıköy for his unique lifestyle and hard work. Olgun makes his way by collecting tins off the street throughout each day, and makes all of his own food. He is known as Kabasakal by the local artisans.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles and is for adults ages 19+.
Rosinante (at 12:30 pm)
This heavily-awarded drama film, which runs for 103 minutes, is about a husband and wife who leave their jobs for different reasons, and find new work by buying a motorcycle and using it to transport people around Istanbul. The couple experiences a completely different lifestyle than they had previously, which is upended when the motorcycle is stolen.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles and is suitable for adults ages 19+.
Oya (at 7:30 pm)
A documentary that is just an hour long and tells the story of Gülbiye, the last remaining woman in her village who farms silkworms. She teaches the craft to her granddaughter through the form of telling her tales about the oya rituals.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles and is suitable for adults ages 19+.
Hayat (at 6:00 pm)
This over three hour-long drama tells the story of a young girl who runs away from home after being forced into an engagement by her father. After a while, her would-be husband decides to go to Istanbul to try and find her, in order to confront her.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles and is for adults ages 19+.
For tickets and the festival’s official website, visit vtff.ca.
Films on Sunday, November 24th, 2024
Films on the Sunday include The Reeds (at 10:45 am), Crossing (at 1:30 pm), Not What You Think (at 4:00 pm), Istanbul Trilogy (at 6:30 pm), and Dormitory (at 8:10 pm),
The same as the films the day before, these screenings all happened at the SFU Woodwards Goldcorp Centre for the Arts at 149 West Hastings Street.
The Reeds (at 10:45 am)
A drama film that runs for just over two hours, it’s set in the foothills of the Anatolia mountains. A young man named Ali aims to win back his wife’s love, while also chafing against the oppression put on by the local gangs and landlords.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles and is suitable for adults ages 19+.
Crossing (1:30 pm)
This 106-minute drama tells the story of a retired teacher who goes on a journey to try and find her long-lost niece. While doing so, she meets a lawyer who is fighting for trans rights.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles. The same as the other films, it’s for adults ages 19+.
Not What You Think (4:00 pm)
A drama film that runs for 107 minutes, it’s about three siblings who are forced to reconnect after years apart following the death of their father. While staying with each other for a little while, they become closer and learn a lot about the others that they didn’t know before.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles and is for adults ages 19+.
Istanbul Trilogy (6:30 pm)
A trio of short films that combine to be a 60-minute experience. All three films follow different characters in Istanbul, who are dealing with situations that touch on themes of family and remembrance.
The films are in Turkish with English subtitles and are for adults ages 19+.
Dormitory (8:10 pm)
At just under two hours long, this film is set in 1997, when tensions between the secular and religious populations of Turkey were high. A 14-year-old boy is sent to an Islamic dormitory in order to properly learn Muslim values, but he struggles to fit in.
The film is in Turkish with English subtitles and is for adults ages 19+.
Other Information
To learn more about the festival and its films visit, the Vancouver Turkish Film Festival website.
Other similar events that might be of interest include the following:
- DOXA Documentary Film Festival (in spring)
- Vancouver International Film Festival (in mid-autumn)
- Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival (in October)
- South African Film Festival (in November)
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver Turkish Festival
- Vancouver Shows & Entertainment
- History & Culture in Vancouver
- Vancouver Rainy Day Activities
- Vancouver’s November Calendar of Events