İstanbul Gelişim University (IGU) continues its educational approach of preparing students for the future not only with theoretical knowledge but also with applied practice, production, and industry experience. The Harvest Time Short Film Festival, organized for the third time this year by the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA) Radio, Television, and Cinema Department, has evolved into an important platform supporting innovative production by bringing young filmmakers together under one roof. The festival, realized with the contributions of the university's internal and external stakeholders, made the work of young talents in cinema visible while allowing students to come together with industry professionals, share experiences, and reach wider audiences with their productions.
Industry Representatives and Academics Come Together on the Same Jury
The festival's jury was chaired by Dr. Rifat Özçöllü, Chair of the Apart Sanat Association Board of Directors and one of the department's external stakeholders. Jury members included Asst. Prof. Fatma Esra Öztürk Bedir, Mustafa Çağatay Türkmen, Selahaddin Bor, Seher Kızılırmak, and Hazal Tanrıverdi.
This structure, bringing together academia and industry representatives, contributed to the multidimensional evaluation of young filmmakers' works.
An Event Program Spanning from Artificial Intelligence to Story Curation
In addition to its competition segments, the festival drew attention through its talks and workshops. A talk titled "How Has / Is / Will Artificial Intelligence Transform Cinema?" held with the participation of Fatih Kıymaz and moderated by Radio, Television, and Cinema Departmental Chair Asst. Prof. Emre Doğan, examined the future of the cinema industry and technological transformation processes.
In addition, the "Story Curation in Film and Video" workshop organized by Cheyni CEO Can Eren, one of the department's external stakeholders, attracted strong interest from participants. The festival's workshop program was completed with a "Screenwriting" event conducted by Savaş Hamarat.
Young Talents Competed in "First Harvest" and "After Harvest"
The "First Harvest" competition section for high school students and the "After Harvest" section open to IGU Radio, Television, and Cinema Department students both attracted great interest as part of the festival.
In addition, the special screening selection titled "Fallow" presented last year's graduation projects and various special screenings to audiences, giving participants the opportunity to view young filmmakers' production processes from different perspectives.
"Best Film" and "Special Jury Award" Presented
In the competitive sections of the festival — which carries no commercial purpose and was established entirely with the aim of supporting young producers — awards were presented in the "Best Film" and "Special Jury Award" categories.
In the "First Harvest" category, in which high school students from different provinces of Türkiye participated, the 7-minute film "Özgün Bir Ben" (An Authentic Me) directed by Mert Ali Çavdar was named Best Film. The 13-minute "Sessiz Çoğunluk" (Silent Majority) by Tuna Oranus received the Special Jury Award.
In the "After Harvest" category, open to IGU Radio, Television, and Cinema Department students, the 12-minute film "Onların Hikâyesi" (Their Story) shot by Hazal Naz Kılınç won the Best Film Award, while the 5-minute film "Muhannet" directed by Mazlum Yanık received the Special Jury Award.
An Investment in the Future of Cinema from IGU
İstanbul Gelişim University continues to support its students not only with professional knowledge but also with applied fields in which they can produce, express themselves, and make direct contact with the industry. The Harvest Time Short Film Festival, now in its third year, not only gives young filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talents but also stands out as an important educational and sharing platform that contributes to the development of cinema culture in Türkiye.
Completed with film screenings, talks, workshops, and an awards ceremony, the festival was etched in the memory as a powerful reflection of İstanbul Gelişim University's vision of quality education in art and communications.
