15th EU Human Rights Short Film Competition Winners Announced!
The winners of the 15th EU Human Rights Short Film Competition were announced at a ceremony hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye on 12 December 2025, in Ankara.
Every year since 2011, the Delegation and EU Member States have fostered dialogue and reflection on human rights during EU Human Rights Film Days and Short Film Competition, culminating on 10 December to mark Human Rights Day.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Delegation Jurgis Vilčinskas highlighted the power of cinema in making human rights visible: “Human rights are not shaped only in laws or relevant institutions; they live in the real and often vulnerable moments that art brings to the surface. Cinema has a unique ability to keep these truths visible and to make them resonate far beyond the screen. As the European Union, we remain committed to protecting and strengthening these fundamental rights under all circumstances, and to standing with those who work to uphold them.”
This year, the competition received 317 applications. The Pre-selection Jury — Fulten Larlar (Bilkent University), Tuğçe Kutlu (Ankara University), and Boran Aksoy (Bilkent University) — undertook the challenging task of selecting the finalists. They shortlisted films in the Human Rights category and 5 films each for the Special Awards on Gender Equality and Climate Crisis.
The Final Jury — Selman Nacar (Director), Canan Ergüder (Actor), Burak Göral (Film Critic and Screenwriter), Prof. Dr. S. Ruken Öztürk (Ankara University), and Hacer Foggo (Journalist-Author, Human Rights Activist) — evaluated the 20 finalist films and selected the award winners.
Winners of the 15th EU Human Rights Short Film Competition
Among the 20 films that reached the final, the winners were awarded special prizes.
Human Rights Awards
- First Prize: 326 / Miray Kuyumcu
- Second Prize: Koçer / Serhat Boylu
- Third Prize: Paylaşılamayan – Unshareable / Furkan Akarsu
- Honourable Mention – Jury Special Award: Gazzeli Bir Şair – Free Words from Gaza / Abdullah Harun İlhan
Gender Equality Special Award
- Onlar – Behind / Hamide Enise Aytekin
- Honourable Mention – Jury Special Award: Hayat Tohumları – Seeds of Life / Furkan Tetik
Climate Crisis Special Award
- Göz Devirme Sanatı – Rolling Eyes / Zeynep Sıla Demircioğlu
The award-winning films will be screened for audiences on 13 December at the Ankara Kızılay Büyülü Fener Cinema, as part of the 15th EU Human Rights Film Days.
The 15th EU Human Rights Film Days brings together 26 European feature and short films of various genres and techniques — none of which have previously been screened in Türkiye — with the support of EU Member State diplomatic missions and EU National Cultural Institutes. Screenings will continue until 14 December at AnkaraKızılay Büyülü Fener Cinema and on the Festival Scope online screening platform. All screenings are open to the public and free of charge. The films are subtitled in Turkish and English, and with closed captions in Turkish when online.
Related Links
- 15th EU Human Rights Film Days website: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/turkiye/EUHRFD25_en
- 15th EU Human Rights Film Days catalogue: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025/documents/EUHRFD25_en.pdf
- Festival Scope digital screening platform: https://www.festivalscope.com/page/euhrfd-2025/
For information:
Dilek Tütüncü, Information and Communication Officer,
Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye
Phone: 0312 459 87 00
E-mail: dilek.tutuncu@eeas.europa.eu
European Union, 2025
European Union, 2025
European Union, 2025
European Union, 2025
European Union, 2025