Following a high turnout on the first day, film screenings, talks, and workshops continued without interruption on the second day. The short films, evaluated by the jury, were awarded at a ceremony held on the second day. The festival was attended by Istanbul Gelişim University Rector Prof. Dr. Bahri Şahin, as well as mentors, jury members, and industry representatives. "The foundation of a sustainable future is the sustainability of humanity," said Istanbul Gelişim University Rector Prof. Dr. Bahri Şahin in his opening speech. Bahri Şahin, drawing attention to the strong relationship between sustainability and art, gave important messages to young people: "I am greatly honored to host this event. As Istanbul Gelişim University, we now embrace an understanding that goes beyond a traditional vision; we aim to educate young people who can see beyond the horizon, read the future, and transform it. Unfortunately, the world we live in exhibits a structure that has lost its sustainability in many aspects. Therefore, we need to move beyond simply using sustainability as a discourse and transform it into concrete actions in all areas of life. True sustainability is possible through a mental transformation; because the foundation of a sustainable future is the sustainability of humanity. Today, wars continue in the world, and people are destroying their own futures with their own hands. A great humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Gaza before our very eyes. In such a world, my advice to young people is this: Stand with the oppressed, not the oppressors. Stand tall, question; only then can we achieve true sustainability. In this respect, cinema is one of the most powerful communication tools that makes social reality visible. Frequently addressing these issues in cinema is of great importance in strengthening collective consciousness. As Istanbul Gelişim University, we are committed to artistic, "We are adopting a holistic approach that brings together social and technical innovation. In addition to our TEKMER and SATMER centers, we are continuing our work on establishing SOSYOMER in the field of social innovation. These types of innovation are the three pillars that shape civilization; one without the other is incomplete," he said.
**Lifetime Achievement Awards: Respect for Masters of Cinema** On the first day of the festival, the Festival Committee presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to individuals who have contributed to Turkish cinema. The first Lifetime Achievement Award was given to director Ezel Akay, known for his cinematic language and social sensitivity. Akay, unable to attend the ceremony due to a busy schedule, sent a special video message. The award was presented to Dr. Ali Kemal Çipe on behalf of Ezel Akay by the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Prof. Dr. Güzin Ilıcak Aydınalp. The second Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the master theater and film actor Erhan Yazıcıoğlu. After a special video prepared by the festival team was shown, the award was presented to him by Rector Prof. Dr. Bahri Şahin. "They submitted content that drew attention to an issue and benefited society," said Ahmet Bikiç, Lecturer in Visual Communication Design at the Faculty of Fine Arts: "This year, a total of 426 films were submitted to the festival from 27 countries. Our biggest difference this year was the inclusion of high school students in the process. We held a two-day 'Sustainability Workshop' with our high school students. During these two days, the students discussed the United Nations' 17 sustainable development goals in their own committees, and today they will announce their decisions. These decisions will be published as 'the youth's message on sustainability.' Our main goal was to create a platform where young people could discuss sustainability and environmental issues, raise their awareness on this subject, and provide them with a space to freely express their ideas. Thus, they both made their voices heard under the university umbrella and gained a very valuable experience. On the other hand, this year our festival only accepted films within the framework of the sustainability theme.
All the submitted films touched upon the United Nations' 17 sustainable development goals, drew attention to an issue, and benefited society." These were the contents. We have been organizing this festival for two years entirely with the university's own resources and unique means. At this point, I would especially like to thank our rectorate, our department head, and our jury. We will be giving awards to the finalist films. We have awards in a total of six categories. In addition, there are three films in the high school category.
