DARKNESS

“Darkness” immerses the viewer in a completely black screen for three minutes. Initially giving the impression of a technical malfunction, the film gradually establishes the existence of a world through sound. Crowds, footsteps, cars, conversations, and the voice of a man waiting for help are heard. But no one stops, no one extends a hand.

As the film progresses, the viewer experiences not only the darkness of a visually impaired individual but also the indifference of society. In the end, a small child's outstretched hand becomes the only light in the darkness.

“Darkness” is an experimental short film that portrays the invisible loneliness experienced by visually impaired individuals and the apathy of people in a simple yet powerful way.

  • BAHADIR HEKİM
    Director
  • BAHADIR HEKİM
    Writer
  • BAHADIR HEKİM
    Key Cast
  • Aze
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    KARANLIK
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 12, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    20 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Türkiye
  • Country of Filming:
    Türkiye
  • Language:
    Turkish
  • Shooting Format:
    DİJİTAL
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - BAHADIR HEKİM

DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHY – BAHADIR HEKİM

Bahadır Hekim is an independent short film director and producer based in Turkey. Developing his interest in cinema at a young age, Hekim began to create his own cinematic language, focusing particularly on low-budget and experimental narrative forms.

His works highlight human psychology, social indifference, existential questioning, and Sufi themes. Minimalist storytelling, atmosphere creation, and an approach that directly immerses the viewer in the experience are fundamental characteristics of his cinema. Preferring a narrative based more on emotion and intuition than on visuals, Hekim aims to transform the viewer from a passive observer into a part of the story.

Actively involved in many stages of the directing, producing, and creative processes in short film production, Bahadır Hekim develops original and bold projects by turning limited resources into advantages. His films frequently feature themes aimed at raising social awareness.

“Darkness” is one of the projects where the director's experimental cinematic approach is most clearly and powerfully presented. In this film, Hekim aims to bring the viewer closer to the experience of visually impaired individuals by completely eliminating visual narrative, and to create a direct confrontation with social sensitivity.

Bahadır Hekim views cinema not only as a narrative tool but also as a space for awareness and confrontation.

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Director Statement

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

“Darkness” is an experimental short film that aims not to represent the experience of visually impaired individuals, but to allow the viewer to experience it directly. The complete elimination of visual narrative in this film consciously suspends the act of “seeing,” a fundamental element of cinema, aiming to push the viewer out of their comfort zone.

Traditional cinematic language mostly observes and represents visual impairment from the outside. This film, however, instead of representation, places the viewer inside this experience for a limited time. The black screen is not only an aesthetic choice; it is also a narrative tool. The absence of images sharpens the presence of sounds, leaving the viewer grappling with feelings of disorientation, uncertainty, and loss of control.

The initial sense of technical malfunction triggers feelings of impatience and boredom in the viewer. This conscious dramaturgical choice forces the viewer to confront their own perceptual reflexes. As the film progresses, a public space is constructed through the sounds heard; this space is not only a physical place but also a social mirror. The crowd, inactive despite the call for help, represents the transformation of individual indifference into a collective form.

At this point, the film opens up a discussion not about physical blindness, but about the concept of "social blindness." It emphasizes the idea that the act of seeing is not only a biological function but also an ethical responsibility. Throughout the film, the viewer remains a mere witness; rather, through their passivity, they become a part of this indifference. The final text/dialogue makes this confrontation direct and inevitable.

In the final scene, a child's outstretched hand is the narrative's only point of hope. This choice aims to make visible the difference between learned indifference and instinctive empathy. This encounter, established through a minimal gesture, creates a moment of ethical enlightenment within the film's dark structure.

"Darkness" constructs a narrative where form and content transform into one another. The absence of the image is not merely a deficiency; it is meaning itself. The film aims to ask the viewer: Is seeing truly looking? And more importantly, why do we often ignore what we see?

This film aims to contribute to the visibility of visually impaired individuals, making their experience visible through a simple and direct narrative without aestheticizing it. Its primary motivation is to transform the viewer's brief discomfort into lasting awareness.