15th EU Human Rights Short Film Competition Finalists Announced! - EU Human Rights Film Days, 10–14 December 2025

Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye to mark the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this year’s competition received 317 short film submissions.  20 finalists were chosen for the Human Rights Awards, as well as the special awards on Gender Equality and the Climate Crisis. The winners will be announced at the award ceremony in Ankara on 12 December.
 
Pre-Selection Jury
 
The pre-selection was carried out by a committee of academics working in the fields of cinema, communication and design:
 
• Fulten Larlar – Instructor, Department of Communication and Design, Bilkent University
• Tuğçe Kutlu – Research Assistant, Faculty of Communication, Ankara University
• Boran Aksoy – Instructor, Department of Communication and Design, Bilkent University
 
Final Jury
 
The Final Jury consists of distinguished figures working in the fields of cinema, culture and arts, academia, and human rights. The jury will evaluate the 20 shortlisted films selected by the Pre-Selection Jury and determine the award-winning films:
 
• Canan Ergüder – Actor
• Selman Nacar – Director
• Prof. Dr. S. Ruken Öztürk – Professor
• Burak Göral – Film Critic, Screenwriter
• Hacer Foggo – Journalist-Author, Human Rights Activist
 
FINALISTS
 
Human Rights Award Finalists (10)

1. “326” Director: Miray Kuyumcu

2. “Bir Çiçek Bir Bavula Nasıl Sığar / How Does a Flower Fit in a Suitcase” Directors: Yeşim Gültekin, Sabri Tutuş

3. “Bir Sabah Küçük Bir İsyan / One Morning, A Small Rebellion” Director: Mehmet Rutkay Açıkgöz

4. “Dilber” Director: Sezer Baydar

5. “Koçer”  Director: Serhat Boylu

6. “Özgür Kelimeler: Gazzeli Bir Şair / Free Words from Gaza” Director: Abdullah Harun İlhan

7. “Paylaşılamayan / Unshareable”  Director: Furkan Akarsu

8. “Sandık / Chest”  Director: Yalçın Tutku Demir

9. “Taşın Rengi / Colour of the Stone”  Director: Tuğba Yaşar

10. “Uzak Yankılar / Distance Echoes”  Director: Hayrettin Alan

Gender Equality Special Award Finalists (5)

1. “Adako” Director: Alina Evirgen

2. “Cringe Kızın Yükselişi ve Düşüşü / The Rise and Fall of a Cringe Girl” Directors: Batıkan Köse, Doğukan Köse

3. “Göz Devirme Sanatı / Rolling Eyes” Director: Zeynep Sıla Demircioğlu

4. “Her “Aşk” Emek İster / All “Love” Demands Effort” Director: İdil Berk

5. “Kimseyi Öldürmek İstemiyorum / I Don’t Want to Kill Anybody” Director: Yalın Çağdaş Eşsiz

Climate Crisis Special Award Finalists (5)

1. “Ardımızda Kalanlar / Those Left Behind” Directors: Muhammed Emin Çırçır, Mahmut Enes Şahin

2. “Hayat Tohumları / Seeds of Life” Director: Furkan Tetik

3. “Odunları Getirdiler / The Lumber’s Here” Director: Zanna Abasova

4. “Onlar / Behind” Director: Hamide Enise Aytekin

5. “Son Yuva / The Last Nest” Director: Hasan Hüseyin Alkan

 
Awards Ceremony on 12 December 2025
 
The winners of the competition will be announced at the ceremony to be hosted by the Delegation in Ankara on 12 December 2025. The event will bring together members of the diplomatic community, the film industry, academics, civil society representatives, the culture and arts community, and members of the media.
 
EU Human Rights Film Days: 10–14 December 2025
Organised annually since 2011 by the Delegation as a free and public event, the EU Human Rights Film Days will take place at Kızılay Büyülü Fener Cinema in Ankara on 10–14 December, and simultaneously online across Türkiye on the Festival Scope digital screening platform.
The 15th EU Human Rights Film Days will present 26 recent European feature and short films to audiences in Türkiye, and will bring the award-winning films of the 15th EU Human Rights Short Film Competition to the big screen.

Related Links
• Festival Scope digital screening platform
• 15th EU Human Rights Film Days website
• 15th EU Human Rights Film Days catalogue

European Union, 2025

European Union, 2025

European Union, 2025