III International Gordion Archaeofilm Festival Concludes with Awards Ceremony at Gordion

The III International Gordion Archaeofilm Festival, held in Ankara for the third time this year, concluded with an awards ceremony at the Ancient City of Gordion in Polatlı.

The festival, organized by the Gordion Foundation with the support of the General Directorate of Cinema of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ankara Development Agency of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, held its awards ceremony at the Ancient City of Gordion in Polatlı.

Speaking at the ceremony, Polatlı Mayor Mürsel Yıldızkaya stated that Gordion, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, is part of the shared memory of all humanity, and that they would continue to organize the festival every year with the responsibility of protecting this historical heritage and passing it on to future generations.

Kadim Koç, Chairman of the Board of the Gordion Foundation, said that the festival brings history, art and documentary cinema together under one roof, adding that it is organized to promote the ancient city and the values of the region.

Festival Director Kadir Uluç stated that their aim is to take the festival to a higher level with each passing year.

Following a concert by the Ankara Turkic World Music and Dance Ensemble, awards and commemorative situla statuettes were presented to the winners in different categories. A total of 828 films from 108 countries had applied to the festival, and 12 films reached the finals following the preliminary jury evaluation.

Award-Winning Films and Directors

Professional Category

Best Film Award: “Siyah Kalem” – Director: Selin Aktaş

Jury Special Award: “Porajmos” – Director: Dagmara Drzazga

Jury Special Award: “Bilgiye Yolculuk Endülüs” – Director: Sedat Benek

Student Films Category

Best Student Film Award: “Kirkit” – Director: Mert Solak

Jury Special Award: “Karanlıktan Günışığına” – Director: Esad Can Öner

Jury Special Award: “Kintsugi Sanatı” – Director: Sevinç Aydoğan

Ankara in Time Short Film Competition

Best Film Award: “Son Yuva” – Director: Hasan Hüseyin Alkan

Jury Special Award: “Zamanın Tanığı; Ankara Garı” – Director: Deniz Boran Uslu

Jury Special Award: “Dumanı Üstünde Bir Miras” – Director: Sinem Ayoğlu

Gordion Foundation Special Award: “Rüzgar Dönüyor” – Director: Ernes Sarykhalilov