Tickets available on 2/24/2026 at 10:00am
112 min. / 2024 / with English subtitles
Cast: Ezgi Çelik, Barış Gönenen, Deniz Türkali,
Selen Uçer, Lale Mansur
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
WHILE YOU LIVE, SHINE HAVE NO GRIEF AT ALL LIFE EXISTS
ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE AND TIME DEMANDS ITS TOLL*
"Apollon By Day Athena By Night strives to explore the notion of belonging and empathy, and how a woman who grew up as an orphan, reclaims her own sense of humanity by interacting with the dead and the living— a fantasy comedy in the form of a ghost story. It aims to explore guilt, grief and the search for genuine connection in a world that is both cruel and compassionate. It is also an absurdist fairy tale that refuses misery. It explores for a way into hope, friendship and remembering what Spinoza calls “pure joy”, despite rejection and oppression in a world that’s currently breaking. The film embraces the heterogeneous cultures and intertwined myths of the ancient geography of Anatolia. I grew up with these myths, passed down from generation to generation, from culture to culture. What people forget about Turkey is that it is one of the earliest settlements in human civilization, and its historic legacies and heritages are a gift to every individual. In this light, the location of the Side Antique town is not a coincidence for the setting of our film - it is an awe-inspiring settlement that encourages each visitor to connect with their sense of self and to remember that they are a part of larger cosmos. I choose to embrace the benevolent spirit of humanity, and strive to invite the audience to remember, whoever we might be, that we have the power to reclaim our personal and collective stories. And yes, time does indeed demand its toll, so… shine as long as you can." - Emine Yıldırım
* Seikolos Epitaph, the 2nd oldest surviving musical composition, excavated in Aydın, Türkiye, from the Hellenistic Period
SYNOPSIS
Raised as an orphan, Defne, a cranky newbie psychic, finds herself in the ancient town of Side (Antalya), accompanied by the ghosts of a Marxist revolutionary, a prostitute, and a primeval priestess; as she searches for her long lost mother.
SELECTED FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
"I was charmed by this debut feature... Yıldırım's approach to magical realism is warm and affectionate... It's a thoughtful and enchanting film, one that hopefully has a fruitful festival run ahead." – ROGERBERT.COM
"A whimsical and poignant debut... celebrated for its unique visual language and its heartfelt examination of memory and motherhood." – SCREEN DAILY
"The film has genuine wit, with standout performances from both the protagonist and supporting characters... [It is] not only engaging but visually captivating, connecting past and present in an effortlessly refreshing way." – TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL JURY CITATION
EMİNE YILDIRIM
Director, Writer
After graduating from METU Business Administration, Emine Yıldırım attended the Bilgi University Cinema Studies MA Program. She produced films such as Siren’s Call (2018, Tokyo IFF Main Competition), The Impeccables (2013, Busan FF, Romania International FF), The Monster’s Dinner (2011, Montpellier FF, Antalya FF), Ziazan (2014, Cannes Diversity), Mother Virgin No More (2015 Berlinale FF Generation).
She wrote the screenplay of The Impeccables which garnered her a Best Screenplay Award from Ankara Film Festival and the Bilge Olgaç Women’s Achievement award.
Androktones (2018), the experimental documentary she directed was showcased at the Pera Museum and Korean CICA museum, while her fiction short fi lm ll Fortune (2023) competed in the Nuremberg German Turkish FF.
She teaches screenwriting at Kadir Has University and also performs as a stand-up comedian. She is an EAVE 2014 graduate.
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