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Bocuk: An Ancient Ritual

"Bocuk" traces the remnants of a Balkan-Turkic belief said to date back to the Middle Ages, still alive in a remote village of Thrace. This docudrama explores the contemporary meaning of an ancient winter ritual and documents the local narratives surrounding it. Blending fear with tradition, the film invites viewers to discover the extraordinary Night of Bocuk, a practice still observed across generations in Turkey.

  • Buğra Mert Alkayalar
    Director
  • Buğra Mert Alkayalar
    Writer
  • Buğra Mert Alkayalar
    Producer
  • Emre Arslan
    Director of Photography
  • İlker Savaşkurt
    Co-Producers
  • Gaye Alkayalar
    Co-Producers
  • Özlem Kurt Babacan
    Co-Producers
  • Kağan Tunca
    Editing
  • Yağız Oral
    Composer
  • Kaan Tüfekçiyaşar
    Colorist
  • Can Ülgenci
    Sound Mix
  • Kutay Kümbetli
    Camera Assistants
  • Berkay Kurt
    Camera Assistants
  • Hakan Karan
    Assistant Director
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Bocuk: Kadim Bir Ritüel
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Docudrama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Drama
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 21, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    7,700 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Türkiye
  • Country of Filming:
    Türkiye
  • Language:
    Turkish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - MARMARA UNIVERSITY
Director Biography - Buğra Mert Alkayalar

Alkayalar completed a Bachelor's degree in Cinema and Television at Anadolu University in 2020 and a Master's degree in Cinema and Television in 2024. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Cinema at Marmara University. He has participated in national and international festivals such as the Golden Boll Film Festival, the Fabisad GIO Awards, the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, and the Morbido Fest. He is currently working as a Research Assistant at Istanbul Kültür University and continues his studies in cinema.

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