3rd International Digital Film Festival Istanbul Announces Award Winners

The 3rd International Digital Film Festival Istanbul brought film lovers together between October 18–21, merging the creative power of the digital era with the art of cinema. The festival concluded with a Closing and Award Ceremony held on October 21 at the Atatürk Cultural Center Yeşilçam Cinema.
This year, the official selection featured 30 films from 14 countries. By bringing together innovative narratives shaped by generative artificial intelligence and the creativity of independent short films, the festival left a lasting impression on the cultural memory of Istanbul.

With free film screenings, talks, panels, and workshops, Istanbul became the center of digital cinema for four days.
Organized under the leadership of Digital Film Academy, the festival’s main partner Doğuş University continued its support of young filmmakers by awarding graduate scholarship opportunities to the winning directors.

MAIN JURY PRESIDENT: DIRECTOR ÖZCAN ALPER

The 2025 DFFI Main Jury was chaired by director Özcan Alper, and consisted of:

Bennu Yıldırımlar (Actor)
Natali Yeres (Art Director)
Prof. Dr. Hülya Önal (Academic)
Dr. Lecturer Mustafa Bülbül (Academic)
Sadi Çilingir (Film Critic)
Ecem Dilan Köse (Digital Artist)

The Main Jury evaluated the shortlisted works in the categories of Fiction, Animation, Documentary, AI-Powered, Experimental, Fashion and Video Art, selecting winners among 21 finalist films.

A NEW ERA, A NEW NARRATIVE: GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CINEMA

The theme of DFFI 2025 focused on a visionary direction shaping the future of cinema:
“A New Era, A New Narrative: Generative Artificial Intelligence in Cinema.”

Through free panels, talks, and workshops held throughout the festival, audiences had the opportunity to engage with leading figures in the industry and explore new narrative possibilities opened by generative AI in cinema.

Festival Director İlknur Doruker stated:

“Last year, we introduced the first dedicated AI-Powered Film category in Turkey. This year, we carried that vision further. The festival presented a hybrid viewing experience featuring an AI host, offering audiences a glimpse into the future of digital cinema.”

3rd DFFI AWARD WINNERS
Category Winner / Director Country
Best International Film Claimant – Nadereh Sadat Serki Iran
Best National Film Garan – Mahsum Taşkın Turkey
Best Fiction Claimant – Nadereh Sadat Serki Iran
Best Animation Volcelest – Eric Briche France
Best Documentary Sezenler Olsun – Adem Giliz Turkey
Best AI-Powered Film Memory Maker – Nik Kleverov USA
Best Experimental Film I You He / She We You They – Sevin Yaman Turkey
Best Fashion Film Echo Bloom – Kasumi Hiraoka Japan
Best Video Art You Will Always Be Welcome Here – Samuele Portera Italy
Best Director Eric Briche (Volcelest) France
Best Screenplay Blue Dove and The Pomegranate Tree – Xun Hu USA
Best Editing Claimant – Nadereh Sadat Serki Iran
Best Cinematography Across the Waters – Viv Li —
Best Art Direction Mx. – Wwenen Lusa —
Best Sound/Music Volcelest – Eric Briche —
Best Actress Qinglian Zhao (Across the Waters) France
Best Actor Yavuz Akkuzu (Garan) Turkey
DFA Special Award Blue Dove and The Pomegranate Tree – Xun Hu USA
UN Sustainable Development Goal Special Award Sezenler Olsun – Adem Giliz Turkey

FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS
The 3rd International Digital Film Festival Istanbul was organized under the direction of Digital Film Academy.
Doğuş University, as the main partner, awarded graduate scholarships to the winning filmmakers.
The festival was realized with the contributions of the following institutions across various venues in Istanbul:
Beyoğlu Municipality, Çekmeköy Municipality, Crea Centers, Tümay Özokur Academy, Digital Film Center, JOY FM, Kreaktivist, Hilal Bayar Photography, Bleyn Digital Agency, and Biletino.

More Information
Website
Instagram

Contact:
Email: idoruker@digitalfilmfestival.org

Awards & Prizes

MAIN AWARDS

Best Fiction

Best Documentary

Best Animation

Best Experimental

Best Fashion

Best AI-Powered Film

SUB AWARDS

Best Director

Best Screenplay

Best Cinematography

Best Editing

Best Art Direction

Best Sound / Music

Best Actress / Actor

SPECIAL PRIZES

UN Goals Theme Award
(Best film reflecting the UN Sustainable Development Goals)

DFA Special Award
(Selected by Digital Film Academy)

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION:
* DFFI accepts submissions on yearly basis.
* Submissions should be done via FilmFreeway.
* You must own or have all the rights to the submitted film.
* Maximum length allowed is 20 minutes including credits.
* The Festival accepts films completed after the January 1st,2024. Please note, the films produced before this date will be automatically disqualified.
* We accept all short films shot with any equipment/device having a digital camera including mobile phones or tablets.
* We do not require premiere status.
* Entry fees are non-refundable.

COPYRIGHTS
* It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure authorization and permission from copyright owner(s) of any and all copyrighted content or materials included within the submitted Project. The Company and Festival expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted content or materials within or relating to submitted Project, including any content materials that are or may become the basis for any third party claims for copyright infringement. The Company reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Project with any unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted content or materials. In the event that any claim, dispute, action or proceeding shall be brought or asserted by any person or entity that alleges the Project makes unauthorized or unlawful use of any copyrighted content or material, Applicant shall fully indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Festival, and each of their representatives and affiliates from any liability in connection therewith and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.
* By submitting, the filmmaker allows the DFFI to use, distribute and share the film poster, trailer, synopsis and movie stills in our social media accounts and to create a web page for their film without infringing copyright of any kind of form.

SELECTION CRITERIA & WINNERS
* The DFFI seeks creativity and innovation in cinematic language.
* The preliminary jury evaluates all the films in terms of the festival rules and determines the festival selection for the contest and the screenings
* Not all the submissions are selected for the official competition.
* The main jury votes on all the selected films using the multiple scoring method.
* The DFFI also informs the winning applicants individually by email.
* All winners will receive the DFFI certificate (digital file ready to print) in their emails.
* All winners will be eligible to use the DFFI Laurel on their promotional materials.

RESTRICTIONS
* The DFFI can consider any film to be disqualified if the festival considers the content inappropriate. If you have any question regarding this decision you might contact us at our email address info@digitalfilmfestival.org
* Not acceptable: Extremist or propaganda content from religious or political organisations.
* Not acceptable: Pornography of any kind.
* Not acceptable: Torture/Snuff/Mutilation material
* Not acceptable: Films with a poor production standard (bad sound, lack of subtitles/captions for non-English films, video resolution less than 720p HD).
* Not acceptable: Any films submitted before.
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Andres Aloi

    It was a great honor and privilege to be invited to the Digital Film Festival Istanbul. Especially grateful since they awarded our film "The Abyss" with a prize. The communication and treatment was great. I'm saddened that I wasn't able to attend and I will make an effort to visit in the future. A huge thank you to the festival and the organizers.

    January 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We thank you , Andres ! Wishing to see your new films again !
    Best,
    DFFI Team

  • Edmund Kurenia

    Dialogue with ypur festival is very interesting. Thanks for Nominee. For next edition sure i will send another my Project. Thanks !

    November 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Edmund.. looking forward to your new films..

  • HÜSEYİN URÇUK

    It was a wonderful festival. We were very happy to be awarded. I would like to thank the jury.

    November 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Hüseyin.. Congratulations !

  • Tuvana Simin Günay

    Everything was amazing, thank you!

    October 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We thank you for your participation :)

  • YASSINE ABOUHAMID

    Amazing communication, team and hospitality

    January 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Yassine !