A journey from Istanbul to Berlin
Ozan Yoleri’s acclaimed film Başlangıçlar arrives in theaters on December 13
Ozan Yoleri’s directorial debut, the feature film Başlangıçlar (Inpaintings), premiered at the 27th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where it won the NETPAC Award. Scheduled for release in Türkiye on December 13, the movie includes actors Ahsen Eroğlu, Hazal Subaşı, and Özlem Zeynep Dinsel. Maintaining its momentum on the festival circuit,Başlangıçlar will certainly be a December highlight!
Semiha Berksoy: Singing in Full Color in Berlin
An extensive retrospective exhibition from Semiha Berksoy, the artist and opera singer who significantly impacted Turkish culture and art, debuts at the Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart in Berlin on December 6. The exhibition, Singing in Full Color, is curated by the museum’s directors Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, with co-curation by Emily Finkelstein and Agnes Rameder; it’s also documented in the Hamburger Bahnhof catalog series published by Silvana Editoriale Milano. This Semiha Berksoy retrospective is also set to take place in 2026 at Istanbul Modern.
Movies from a neighbor: Greek Cinema Days commence on December 3
The third edition of Greek Cinema Days starts at the Pera Museum on Tuesday, December 3. Pantelis Voulgaris’ poignant sports drama The Striker With Number 9 (9 Numaralı Forma, 1988) kicks off the event. Screenings are free and continue until December 8.
Rewind – Rome at Cermodern
As part of the Rewind project, four Turkish artists drew inspiration from the rich history of Rome, infusing their creations with the essence of this magnificent city. Featuring photographs from Türkiye’s Ambassador to Rome, Ömer Gücük, Rewind – Rome showcases the Roman experience, spanning from the Borghese Gallery to the Sistine Chapel, and from ancient forums to contemporary art galleries. The exhibition starts on December 12 and will be at Ankara CerModern for a month.
Swedish Film Weekend in Ankara
The Swedish Film Weekend, in collaboration with Kult Kavaklıdere and the Embassy of Sweden, is set to take place at Kult Kavaklıdere on December 7-8. One of December’s must-see events, the weekend is organized as part of the European Film Month, initiated by the European Film Academy and celebrated in 42 countries from November 1 to December 7. Tickets can be purchased at Biletinial and Kult box offices.
Afife performed with English subtitles for the first time
The life story of Afife Jale, a prominent figure in Turkish theater, is considered a staple of the stage. This production, directed by Serdar Biliş and featuring Demet Evgar in the role of Afife Jale, will be performed with English subtitles for the first time on December 2 and 3 at Zorlu PSM. Additional dates for subtitled performances will be announced in the coming months.
David Tudor: Devreler, Yankılanmalar, Buluşmalar
David Tudor’s program, David Tudor: Devreler, Yankılanmalar, Buluşmalar (Circuits, Resonances, Encounters), features concerts showcasing works by Tudor and the members of Composers Inside Electronics Inc. (CIE), along with a workshop titled “Sahne Arkası, Keşif ve Uygulamalar (Behind the Scenes, Exploration and Applications)” that emphasizes the creative process and sound construction. The festival takes place between December 6-8. Please visit the Arter website for the full festival program.
Türkiye-Portugal Literature Days begins
Our December event list concludes with a discussion. Organized by IBB Culture, this season’s inaugural event of the World Literatures Meet series, unites nine writers and poets from Portugal and Türkiye. Afonso Cruz, Jacinto Lucas Pires, Mario Tiago Paixao, Rui Zink, Aslı Tohumcu, Elif Sofya, Metin Celal, Nazlı Ayça Özkarahan, and Tarık Tufan gather at Metrohan on December 6-7 to discuss their work and explore Portuguese literature. Attendance is free and on-the-spot translation services are provided.
