We as Istanbul Branch of the Istanbul Chamber of Architects are proud to announce the
18th addition of Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Films Festival.
This non-profit festival is programmed that is realized by the Istanbul Branch of the Istanbul Chamber of Architects.
In the scope of the “Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Films Festival” an international prize competition is organized.
The festival intends to support the produced films and encourage new productions focusing on the field of “architecture and urban”, as well as have acclaimed films in that field meet the audience.

Scope:
The festival features the categories of documentaries and animations. All or some of the candidate films, domestic and foreign, which pass the preliminary selection stage will be included in the screening schedule and a competition will be held among those films.
A selected film in the national category will be rewarded with the Special Jury Prize in Memory of Sami Yılmaztürk, former President of the Istanbul Metropolitan Branch of the Chamber of Architects, who devoted his professional life to the Chamber, made great efforts to root our Festival, and passed away in 2018.

Sami Yılmaztürk Special Award (National Category Only): 15.000 TL
Documentary category:
First prize: 15.000 TL
Second prize: 10.000.-TL
Third prize: 8.000 TL
Animation category:
First prize: 15.000 TL
Second prize: 10.000.-TL
Third prize: 8.000 TL

The festival will transfer the prize to the referred bank accounts of the awarded directors. The festival bears the bank charges in Turkey, but is not responsible for the commissions of intermediary banks.

CONDITIONS FOR APPLYING TO 2024 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
1. Films eligible for the competition include documentaries and animations produced in the last 2 years featuring architecture and urban issues. Regarding architecture and urban issues, the festival also focuses on subjects such as the liveable environment, housing problems, urban rights, urban and social justice, and urban transformation.
Films should not have participated in this festival before.
2. Films attending in the competition are limited to 60 minutes.
3. a) Films from abroad whose language is not English must have English subtitles. All films that pass the pre-selection (English and/or non-English) must be submitted to the festival committee along with their dialogue lists, time codes, and SRT files. Films without an SRT file cannot participate in the competition.
b) Films to be submitted from Turkey, whose language is not Turkish, must have Turkish and English subtitles.
c) Turkish-language films to be submitted from Turkey must have English subtitles.
4. Regardless of the original format, a copy of the movie in H.264 format with an MP4 extension can be sent to the organizing committee via the “Filmfreeway (https://filmfreeway.com/Archfilmfest)” website and data transfer programs such as Vimeo, WeTransfer etc. The application form must be downloaded from www.archfilmfest.org and sent to archfilmfest@archfilmfest.org together with other documents. If any technical problems occur during the preview of the film, the director or the distribution company will be notified. The director or the distribution company is obliged to send a new copy within 48 hours at the latest. Otherwise, the film will be excluded from evaluation process.
5. The downloadable copy of the film to be sent to the Organizer Committee must be accompanied by:
a) The competition application form (Participants participating through Filmfreeway are not required to submit this form.)
b) 2 images from the film
c) 1 photograph of the director
d) Turkish and English biographies of the participating directors from Turkey, as well as English biographies of the international directors (limited to 50 words each).
e) The plot of the film, maximum 50 words, and also A 3-minute trailer from the pre-selected film must be added.
f) The selection committee has the right to exclude films that do not meet the application requirements.
6. The participants may participate in the competition with multiple films.
7. The films passing the elimination stage will be placed in the festival archive and can be included in non-commercial screenings upon notification to the director. The Chamber of Architects branches can show films from the festival screening programme for educational and non-commercial purposes. Universities studying architecture and urban planning can screen those films for free educational purposes. The film directors and producers will be deemed to have accepted this condition from the beginning.
8. Of the films that participate in the competition, the Festival Organiser Committee may include in the festival programme all or some of the films passing the preliminary elimination. The jury will evaluate these films and award the winners.
9. Competition Announcement: June 10, 2024
10. Application Deadline: July 31, 2024.
11. Announcement of the results: The films to be screened will be announced on August 15, 2024, and the winning films will be announced at the award ceremony on October 13, 2024.
12. The author is responsible for any copyrights that may arise from third parties during film screenings.
13. If necessary, the Organiser Committee may replace any Selection Committee members and form a preliminary jury.
14. Awards:
Sami Yılmaztürk Special Award (National Category Only): 15.000 TL
Documentary category:
First prize: 15.000 TL
Second prize: 10.000.-TL
Third prize: 8.000 TL
Animation category:
First prize: 15.000 TL
Second prize: 10.000.-TL
Third prize: 8.000 TL
The festival will transfer the prize to the referred bank accounts of the awarded directors. The festival bears the bank charges in Turkey, but is not responsible for the commissions of intermediary banks.
15. Board members and employees of Istanbul Metropolitan Branch, Chamber of Architects, Union of Chambers of Turkish Architects and Engineers (TMMOB), selection committee members, those whom selection committee members provide consultancy and/or act as a business or project partner, etc., and their first-degree relatives cannot participate in the competition.
16. The decision of the selection committee is final. Decisions are made by a majority of votes.

COMPETITION SELECTIVE BOARD (in alphabetical order):
Dağhan Celayir (Director, Scriptwriter)
Emrah Erkanı (Academician, Director)
Savaş Güvezne (Documentary Director)
Veli Kahraman (Art Director, Director)
Nazlı Eda Noyan (Bahçeşehir University Animation Department Head, Prof. Dr. Faculty Member)
Lalehan Öcal (Yeditepe University, Department of Radio Television Cinema, Dr. Faculty Member)
Ayşe Derin Öncel (Architect, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Prof. Dr. Faculty Member)
Eser Yağçı (Architect, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Dr. Faculty Member)

ORGANISING COMMITTEE:
Alper Ünlü (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Architects Istanbul Metropolitan Branch)
Ahmet Erkan (Secretary Member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Architects, Istanbul Metropolitan Branch)
Koray Atay (Board Member of the Chamber of Architects, Istanbul Metropolitan Branch)
Koray Güler (Board Member of the Chamber of Architects, Istanbul Metropolitan Branch)
Ayça Yazıcı (Secretary Member of the Chamber of Architects Istanbul Metropolitan Branch Trakya BKBT)
Selma Erdem (Festival Secretary)

Festival poster: Behiç Ak

APPLICATION ADDRESS:
Selma Erdem
TMMOB Chamber of Architects
Istanbul Metropolitan Branch
Karaköy, Kemankeş Cad. No. 31
Beyoğlu 34425 İstanbul - Türkiye
Tel: +90 (212) 251 49 00 – 205
Fax: +90 (212) 251 94 14
E-Mail: archfilmfest@archfilmfest.org
Web: www.archfilmfest.org

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • It has been an honor to be awarded by the Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Films Festival. I have appreciated the interest in important subjects, the careful selection of the movies and the comunication with all the people involved. I do raccomend it to all filmakers interested in urban life and development. Thank you very much.

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Maurizio Dalla Palma,
    Thank you very much for your kind words.
    Selma Erdem

  • Theodoros Thermos

    It was a great honor that my short film "Envoronment without Nature" was selected and screened at the historical cinema Beyoglu. I was not able to attend, but the communication with the team was on point. Great initiative overall by the chamber of architects of Istanbul.

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Theodoros Thermos,
    We thank you for your valuable contribution to our festival with your film.
    Selma Erdem

  • David H Falagán

    Wonderful festival and wonderful programming

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Dear David H. Falagan,
    We thank you for the value you added to our festival.
    Selma Erdem

  • I am proud to have participated in this festival with the documentary ESSAY-ABOUT NON FUTURE CITIES. The attention, communication and kindness they showed from the first moment they evaluated my documentary was a great principle. And, it must be said, it is a festival that in addition to its excellent organization has the technical support and prestige of “The Chamber of Architects Istanbul Metropolitan Branch”, which makes it one of the best specialized festivals I have known. Congratulations for its 18 years and long life to this festival. Miguel Méndez D.

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Miguel Mendez Diaz,
    Thank you for your positive comments about our festival and for your contribution to our festival with your film.
    Selma Erdem

  • The organizers demonstrated excellent communication skills and showed great flexibility in adapting the schedule to accommodate the filmmakers. Beyond the festival itself, it was a pleasure to be hosted by such warm and welcoming people. Overall, it was a fantastic experience!

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Antonio Paoletti,
    Thank you for your wonderful words.
    Selma Erdem