WELCOME TO THE 25TH BOSTON TURKISH FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL!
We are proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Boston Turkish Film and Music Festival. Since its inception, the festival's film program has been co-presented by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and we are especially grateful to the MFA Film Program for their collaboration from the very beginning. We are proud to continue the tradition of highlighting emerging and established Turkish filmmakers with several appearances by guest directors.
The Festival opens on March 20 with "Amrum" by director Fatih Akm, which had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Prior to the film screening, acclaimed pianist Hyun Sook Tekin will give a special performance.
Esteemed filmmaker Tayfun Pirselimoglu returns with the North America premiere of "Idea" to the Festival on March 28.
Award-winning screenwriter Emine Yildirim's directorial debut film, "Apollon by Day Athena by Night" will be screened on April 3 making it's East Coast Premiere, winner of the Asian Future Best Film Award at Tokyo Film Festival.
"Minus One", the recipient of the Best Short Film Audience Award, and "Garan", the recipient of the Best Short Film Jury Award at the Boston Turkish Festival's 20th Annual Documentary and Short Film Competition will be screened on March 28.
Boston Turkish Film Festival's impact was formally recognized in 2019 with a special commendation from the Boston Society of Film Critics, honoring our excellence in "bringing work by emerging and established filmmakers of Turkish cinema to Boston audiences."
In addition to the film screenings at MFA, the film program will also take place at the Goethe-Institut Boston on Sunday, March 29.
Director Aysun Bademsoy's documentary, "After the Game" is co-presented with the Goethe-Institut Boston. A panel discussion moderated by film critic Peter Keough, with guest filmmakers and critics, will be followed by two more film screenings; "Like A Novel" by Tayfun Belet, recipient of the Best Documentary Audience Award, and "Tomato, Pepper, Depression" by Aybiike Avcı, recipient of the Best Documentary Award at the Boston Turkish Festival's 20th Annual Documentary and Short Film Competition.
Festival will continue with a special music program at the Goethe-Institut Boston, Berklee College of Music, and Longy School of Music.
On April 11, Heiraza will perform "Miras: Inherited Songs from the Heart". Violinist Bengisu Gökçe will return to the Festival on April 18 with "Inspirations".
On April 30 flutist Yagmur Soydemir and pianist and conductor Tolga Atalay -On will give a special concert.
On May 3 Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Faz1l Say's cello concerto, "Never Give Up" in their program with soloist Emmanuel Feldman.
Berklee Turkish Ensemble will present a vibrant musical journey on May 3.
Rakel Saranga Band's concert "An Evening of Heartfelt Songs" on May 10 will bring together folk music from Türkiye and Sephardic tradition.
Sueda Catakoğlu will be back at the Festival with "A Night of Jazz & Cabaret" on May 15.
Duo CelloKanun: Sedef Ercetin & Tahir Aydogdu will perform on May 21, performing a repertoire from baroque to contemporary works.
Kenan Oktay and Friends will perform on May 22, featuring an eclectic program ranging from Turkish and Azerbaijani folk repertoire to opera, jazz, and popular music.
As we reach this 25-year milestone, we extend our deepest gratitude to the directors, musicians, and our audience, as well as our co-presenters and sponsors.
Enjoy the Festival!
Erkut Gömülü
Director and Founder
Boston Turkish Film and Music Festival