Experiencing Interruptions?

Hi Mom, It's Me, Lou Lou

Hakkı, a university student earning his keep through Drag Queen performances in Istanbul, is jolted by the news of his mother's passing one night. Concealing his sexual orientation from all but his late mother, he returns to the family home after three years, confronting the weighty expectations of being the only male offspring and his relatives' ignorance. In his childhood room, poignant discoveries await: a vibrant sweater begun by his mother, a stash of cash, and a clandestine photograph capturing a shared moment during her covert visit. Despite grappling with guilt over his mother's demise and his father's aloofness, this journey catalyzes his journey towards self-acceptance.

  • Atakan YILMAZ
    Director
  • Atakan YILMAZ
    Writer
  • Ece Bozkaya
    Producer
    Chronotope Film
  • Atakan YILMAZ
    Producer
    Chronotope Film
  • Onur Gözeten
    Key Cast
    "Hakkı/Lou Lou"
  • Ceren Taşçi
    Key Cast
    "Gülsüm"
  • Savaş Emrah Özdemir
    Key Cast
    "Bekir"
  • Nizam Namidar
    Key Cast
    "İbrahim"
  • Eylül Dursun
    Key Cast
    "Pamuk"
  • Atakan Yılmaz
    Key Cast
    "Taxi Driver"
  • Yasemin Baştan
    Key Cast
    "Emine"
  • Ece Latifaoğlu
    Director of Photography
  • Tuvana Simin Günay
    Film Editor
  • Bengü Şener
    Art Director
  • Onur Nayir
    Co-Producer
    Lotusma Film
  • Seda Özkaraca
    Co-Producer
    Witchcraft Film
  • Onur Erdem
    Sound Designer
  • Tuğçe Şenoğul
    Music
  • HAFTW
    Music
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Merhaba Anne, Benim, Lou Lou
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    19,500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Türkiye
  • Country of Filming:
    Türkiye
  • Language:
    Turkish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • 47. FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL OU COURT METRAGE CLERMONT-FERRAND
    Clermond-Ferrand
    France
    February 1, 2025
    EUROPEAN PREMIERE
    Int. Competition
  • 39. BFI FLARE: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    March 22, 2025
    UK Premiere
  • 41.WICKED QUEER : The Boston LGBTQ+ Film Festival
    Boston
    United States
    April 6, 2025
  • 33. St. Louis International Film Festival
    St. Louis
    United States
    November 15, 2024
    Int. Short Film Competition
  • 31. International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival
    Adana
    Turkey
    September 23, 2024
    Int. Short Film Competition
  • 48. Norwegian Short Film Festival/ Norway
    Grimstad
    Norway
    June 11, 2025
    Nordic
  • 51.Mlada Kamera Short Film Festival/ Czechia

    Czech Republic
    March 22, 2025
    Czech
  • 44.International Istanbul Film Festival/Türkiye

    Turkey
    April 11, 2025
  • 58. Houston International Film Festival/USA
    Texas
    United States
    April 27, 2025
  • 17. New York City Independent Film Festival/USA
    New York
    United States
    June 3, 2025
  • 29. Filmfestival Türkei / Deutschland
    Nürnberg
    Germany
    March 14, 2025
    2nd Prize Short Film
  • 14. International Crime and Punishment Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    November 22, 2024
    International Short Film Competition
  • 13. Pink Life Queer Fest
    Ankara
    Turkey
    January 23, 2025
  • 11. International Uşak Short Film Festival
    Uşak
    Turkey
    National Competition(Not Finalized)
  • 4. Luma Short Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    October 18, 2024
    Special Jury Award
  • 25. International İzmir Short Film Festival
    İzmir
    Turkey
    November 11, 2024
    National Competition (Not Finalize)
  • 21.Akbank Short Film Festival/Turkiye
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    March 17, 2025
  • 25.International Frankfurt Turkish Film Festival/Germany

    Germany
    June 11, 2025
  • 20.International Labour Film Festival/ Türkiye

    Turkey
    May 1, 2025
  • 1.National University of Fenerbahçe Short Film Festival /Türkiye

    May 20, 2025
  • 6.Positively Different Short Film Festival/Greece

    April 6, 2025
    Greece
  • Tüpisch Türkisch Film Festival / Germany

    April 27, 2025
  • 4. Kaş International Film Festival/Türkiye
    ANTALYA
    Turkey
    June 11, 2025
    Best National Film
  • 4. Queer Movie Nights / Greece
    Athens
    May 7, 2025
  • 22nd Vienna Shorts/ Austria
  • 18th Mediterranean Film Festival Split/Crotia
    Split
    Croatia
    June 8, 2025
    Special Mention Award
  • 18.Friss Hús Budapest Short Film Festival/Hungary
    Budapest
    Hungary
    May 25, 2025
    Audience Award
  • 14.Rio LGBTQIA+ Festival Internacional de Cinema/Brazil
    Rio
    Brazil
    July 3, 2025
Distribution Information
  • ORIGINE FILMS
    Sales Agent
    Country: France
Director Biography - Atakan YILMAZ

ATAKAN YILMAZ (Writer, Director, Producer)
Born in 1996 in İzmir, Atakan Yılmaz is a filmmaker with a educational background in political science, theater and cinema. Active since 2010, he has taken on roles in acting, directing, screenwriting, and post-production. A graduate of Istanbul University and Kadir Has University, he co-founded Chronotope Film in 2024. Yılmaz has directed various commercials and music videos, continues to work in this field, and contributes to screenplay teams for diverse projects. His latest short film ‘Hi Mom, It’s Me, Lou Lou’ is currently on the festival circuit.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Since I left my hometown for my education nine years ago, every visit I had to my family in Izmir was a different experience as a maturing individual. Leaving the norms that my parents were imposing-with good intensions- in order for me to adapt the society, facing my loneliness, being part of so many new stories have made significant changes in my self. Everytime I went back to my family house, I found myself in a situation where my desire of “being myself” is conflicted with the solid understanding of love and wisdom which comes from the perspective of my family’s cultural background.

Like any other youngster, when I left that little box, I discovered new ideas and forms of living that I never knew existed. Meeting the people that also doesn’t share the society’s “common” rules and understandings made me feel that I wasn’t alone. Therefore, my goal is taking action as conscience individual and turning my camera towards the people who touched my soul and inspired me, so I can make the truth visible.

This movie is going to be a beginning of my cinema journey, and it represent my sincere admiration and respect for those who are brave enough to sacrifice their past in order to live their future freely, such as Lou Lou. My intention is reflecting our struggle of being who we are in every aspect of life with its purity, a part from the prejudice of any political and ideological perspective. My desire is introducing the character that I wrote to the people with the circumstances that determining Lou Lou’s life and create a cinematic experience for the audience to witness Lou Lou’s journey in its purity, without any expectations.