“Young Cinema” Celebrates Its 5th Year!

The Ayvalık International Film Festival continues to host university students from all across Turkey through its Young Cinema program this year as well. Launched in 2022 to contribute to the education and professional development of young people, the program—which has hosted over 150 students at the festival to date—is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year while once again opening the doors to the professional world for film students.

41 Students to Gather in Ayvalık

Young Cinema program, 363 students—primarily film department students and members of university film clubs, as well as others seeking to develop their skills in this field—applied in response to the annual open call. This year, a total of 41 students from 26 universities, including 9 from Ayvalık, will be in Ayvalık as part of the program.

Throughout the festival, participants will take part in the program not just as spectators, but as active contributors. They will have the opportunity to participate in specialized workshops led by local and international instructors in various disciplines of filmmaking, such as production, screenwriting, directing, editing, and post-production.

From the Kitchen to Production: Becoming Part of the Festival

As part of the program, students coming to Ayvalık will take on roles in various areas of the festival organization, gaining firsthand experience of how a festival comes to life. During this process, participants—who will be divided into groups—will not only observe but also have the chance to put their theoretical knowledge into practice by producing short films, prepare a festival magazine focused on film criticism, and develop creative social media projects that bring the festival into the digital world using current media practices. Young Cinema students will also have the opportunity to watch the year’s most anticipated films, attend panels and talks, and meet industry leaders one-on-one, thereby expanding their professional networks.