AYLA
The Daughter of War
Turkey’s official entry for the 90th Academy Awards - Best Foreign Language Film
Directed by Sıtkı Can Ulkay
Cast: İsmail Hacıoğlu, Çetin Tekindor, Kyung-jin Lee, Kim Seol, Ali Atay, Damla Sönmez, Murat Yıldırım, Taner Birsel
2017 / 124 min. /
with English subtitles
In 1950, amidst the ravages of the Korean War, Sergeant Süleyman stumbles upon a a half-frozen little girl, with no parents and no help in sight. Frantic, scared and on the verge of death, this little girl captures the heart of Süleyman, who risks his own life to save her, smuggling her into his Army base and out of harms way. Not knowing her name and unable to communicate with her, Süleyman names her Ayla, in reminiscence of the moon on the fateful night during which they met. The two form an instantaneous and inseparable bond, and Ayla, almost effortlessly, brings an uncanny joy to the Turkish brigade in the grip of war. As the war comes to a close however, Süleyman's brigade is told that they will be returning home. Süleyman cannot bear abandoning Ayla, and does everything within his power to take her with him. After repeated failure, he is forced to give Ayla to an orphanage, but doesn't give up on the hope of one day reuniting with her. Will the two ever get back together? Turkey’s official entry for the 90th Academy Awards - Best Foreign Language Film.
Selected Festivals and Awards
- Turkey’s official entry for the 90th Academy Awards - Best Foreign Language Film (2017)
- Cape Town International Film Market and Festival, South Africa (2017): Best Editing
- Asian World Film Festival (2017): Audience Award
- Palm Springs International Film Festival, USA (2018): Best of the Fest
- Toronto International Film Festival, Canada (2017)
- Boulder International Film Festival, USA (2018): Official Selection
- Arizona Sedona International Film Festival, USA (2018): Best Foreign Film, Audience Award
- Richmond International Film Festival, USA (2018): Official Selection
- Houston WorldFest International Film Festival, USA (2018): Official Selection
Director SITKI CAN ULKAY
 Sıtkı Can Ulkay (Istanbul, 1964) graduated from Marmara University Institute of Fine Arts Cinema and Television Department. He worked in TRT İstanbul Television between 1985 and 1994.
Since 1994 he has shot music videos and thousands of commercials for major companies and institutions. His first feature film, "Ayla - The Daughter of War" was selected as the official entry from Turkey for the 90th Academy Awards - Best Foreign Language Film.
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