Whether you're a passionate cinephile or merely in town searching for an amazing cultural experience, this year's festival has something really unique to offer.
General Info to Know About the Istanbul Film Festival
Started in 1982, the Istanbul Film Festival is Turkey's longest-running and most renowned film festival. Held in April, the festival has a rich and varied program—showing everything from Turkish cinema to worldwide arthouse, restored classics, thought-provoking documentaries, and boundary-pushing independent films.
Apart from the screenings, the festival provides a dynamic venue for cultural exchange with lectures, discussions, retrospectives, and industry gatherings meant to inspire discussion and cooperation among filmmakers, reviewers, and fans.
What is New in 2025?
The 44th edition is all about celebrating the strength of narrative in modern society. The program for this year's event features:
- Fifteen short films and 139 feature films
- World, Balkan, and Turkish first screenings
- Presence of award-winning filmmakers and emerging talents
Running from April 11 to April 22, the festival offers a varied program reflecting the pulse of modern film.
Among the major attractions of 2025 is the retrospective on Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud, whose most recent picture Dreams has already taken home both the Golden Bear and FIPRESCI Award at the Berlin picture Festival. On April 16, Haugerud will also take part in a festival discussion and attend other film screenings over the week.
Opening film of the festival, Cologne 75 by Ido Fluk. The movie was debuted at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival so in the festival it sets the tone for a really worldwide celebration of cinema.
Highlights of the Festival Program
These are only a handful of the movies and activities generating excitement in Istanbul. Of course the program has to offer so much more!
Films You Have to See in the Festival
- Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl, Special Jury Prize winner in San Sebastian
- Simon of the Mountains – Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize winner
- Blue Trail – Berlin Grand Jury Prize
- Recent works by Burhan Qurbani, Michel Franco, Tom Tykwer, and François Ozon
- Restored classics from Jacques Demy, Robert Bresson, Wim Wenders, David Lynch, and David Lynch
Events & Talks
- April 13–15: Director Haugerud's Sex, Love and Dreams screenings
- Haugerud's Festival Talk on April 16 at Yapı Kredi Culture and Arts
- Renowned photographer and writer Larry Towell talks about his work in war-torn areas all over.
Bridge Meetings
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Meetings on the Bridge (April 15–17) brings together industry professionals and filmmakers from 23 nations. It remains Türkiye's most effective co-production platform by means of panels on documentary storytelling, creative financing, copyright, and artificial intelligence in film. Gülin Üstün will get the Cinema Honorary Award this year for her work on the show since 2006.
Discover the City with Istanbul Tourist Pass®
Should you intend to visit the event and explore more of this lovely city while you are here, be sure to obtain your Istanbul Tourist Pass®, your all-in-one digital sightseeing pass. If you are in the city for the festival, here is the great pass for you to see around while you are here!
The Istanbul Tourist Pass® lets you:
- Avoid waiting in line at major attractions and museums, you can just skip the long ticket lines so catch the movies!
- Take part in audio-guided tours of famous locations so you don't need to find guided tours but can explore on your own!
- Take pleasure in free Bosphorus and Golden Horn cruises, hop-on-hop-off bus trips, and more.
- Make bookings and monitor your credit points with a smartphone it is all digital and up to your speed!
Whether you're attending lectures at Yapı Kredi Culture Center or viewing movies at the famous Atlas Cinema, the pass allows you to easily combine cultural immersion with memorable sightseeing.
Ready to see Istanbul via the prism of world cinema? Buy the Istanbul Tourist Pass® to unlock the 44th Istanbul Film Festival and make the most of it.
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