The awards for the 9th Turkish World Documentary Film Festival, in which Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB) is among the project partners, were presented at a ceremony hosted by TÜRKSOY in Ankara on 17 October 2024.
A total of 300 films from 32 countries participated in the festival, with 36 films making it to the finals. Nine films received awards in the student, short, and feature-length categories. Additionally, five films were honored with the Jury Special Award, and two films received the Festival Organizing Committee Special Award.
This year’s festival was dedicated to the late Dr. Yakup Ömeroğlu, the founder of the Eurasian Writers’ Union, who recently passed away and made significant contributions to the Turkish world. In his honor, the Turkish World Honor Award was presented to the film “Those Who Gave Up Their Future for Independence” (directed by J. Albay Mümin and Mesut Gengeç). The award was presented by the late Dr. Ömeroğlu’s wife, Havva Ömeroğlu.
The Turkish World Lifetime Honor Award was presented to Shuhrat Rizaev, a prominent cultural and artistic figure of Uzbekistan and Director General of Uzbekistan Cinema.
In the 9th Turkish World Documentary Film Festival’s International Feature Documentary Competition, the First Prize was awarded to Eylem Kaftan for the film “365 Hours in One Day.” The Second Prize went to Fırat Özeler for the film “Kavur,” and the Third Prize was given to Musa Ak and Hasan Basri Özdemir for the film “In the Footsteps of an Orchestra.”
In the program, the Jury Special Award was given to Taşkın Çağatay Yamen for the film “The Last Educators”, and the Preliminary Jury Special Award went to Esin Özalp Öztürk for the film “The Harvest of Light.”
In the 9th Turkish World Documentary Film Festival’s International Short Documentary Competition, the First Prize was awarded to Hasan Ete for the film “A Good Death.” The Second Prize went to Kadir Can Arabacı for “The Spirit of Ice,” and the Third Prize was awarded to Alizhan Nasirov (Kyrgyzstan) for “A Doctor.” The Jury Special Award in this category was presented to Mehmet Ali Poyraz for the film “Yaren.”
In the 9th Turkish World Documentary Film Festival’s International Student Documentary Competition, the First Prize was awarded to Altınay Adamaliyeva (Kyrgyzstan) for the film “Kaya” (Түркчө). The Second Prize went to Derya Satir for “Under the Rubble,” and the Third Prize to Cem Güzel for “Psychological Rubble.” The Jury Special Awards were given to Aidan Serik (Kazakhstan) for “Dyad” and Ayşegül Ongun for “Since You Left.” Additionally, the Student Jury Best Film Award was presented to Cem Güzel for “Psychological Rubble.”
Turkish World 9th Documentary Film Festival Turkic States Organization Modern Silk Road Tourism Corridor Special Award was granted to Mübariz Nağıyev (Azerbaijan) for his film “In Search of the Yellow Bride.”
The 9th Turkish World Documentary Film Festival is organized with the support of the General Directorate of Cinema of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB), TÜRKSOY, TİKA, and YTB. It is held in partnership with TRT Avaz, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Press Foundation of the Turkish Journalists’ Associations, universities, and media organizations.
The Award-Winning Films Will Be Screened in 9 Countries
The award-winning and finalist films of the festival will be screened in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
