November 27–29, 2024 • Theme: Sustainability & Environmental Awareness • International and High School Categories
The International Sustainability Short Film Festival, hosted by Istanbul Gelişim University for the first time, powerfully established the connection between artistic narrative and environmental consciousness over three days.
Following 845 film applications from 112 countries, the event hosted 20 finalist films. The awards presented at the gala evening highlighted productions aligned with the festival's vision.
Rector Prof. Dr. Bahri Şahin emphasized during the gala program that "sustainability is our common responsibility," stating the university's goal to make a difference not only through academic but also social projects.
Festival Director Ahmet Bikiç said "This festival is everyone's festival," highlighting the spirit of participation and artistic solidarity.
The festival offered audiences the opportunity to experience sustainability through art, not only through film screenings but also through workshops, panels and talks. Topics such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and carbon footprint were among the main themes of the films.
The festival organized by Istanbul Gelişim University aims to make sustainability issues visible through cinema, support young talents, and create social awareness.
Date: November 27–29, 2024 • Location: IGU Faculty of Fine Arts Campus
The International Sustainability Short Film Festival, hosted by Istanbul Gelişim University, strengthened the bridge between art and environmental consciousness over three days. The festival was not limited to film screenings, but offered participants the opportunity to experience the concept of sustainability through workshops, panels, and talks.
The festival received 845 applications from 112 countries; after preliminary jury evaluation, 20 finalists were screened at the gala evening. This broad participation ensured the festival was discussed on an international scale.
The awards presented at the gala evening aimed to increase the visibility of sustainability-themed narratives. Winning works stood out for their creative screenplay, powerful visual language, and success in conveying social messages.
Workshops given by industry trainers such as Aykut Kılıç from Sony Turkey allowed young directors to develop their technical and narrative skills. In the panels, filmmakers and critics exchanged ideas on the place of sustainability in cinema.
The university administration positioned this festival as a strategic step to strengthen on-campus sustainability policies and create social awareness. Topics such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and carbon footprint reduction were repeated in both panels and exhibitions.
The short film festival made sustainability issues visible through the language of art by building a bridge between academia, industry, and society. In the future, this event can be expected to transform into larger international collaborations and continuous education/workshop programs.