The rhythm of music and cinema meets the soul of Istanbul. The Long Play Music Film Festival brings together not only the rhythm of music but also its stories with film lovers in this historic city. For the Long Play Music Film Festival, music enthusiasts, directors, producers, documentary filmmakers, and cinephiles will gather in Istanbul.

The festival will feature a competition exclusively for music-themed documentary films, and the most outstanding works will be honored with awards.

In addition to the screenings of jury selected documentaries, the festival invites audiences to not only hear the music but to feel it through panels, talks, and various events focused on music and cinema.

Open to documentary filmmakers from around the world, Long Play aims to turn Istanbul into a hub for stories told through music, offering an unforgettable festival experience.

Awards & Prizes

Best documentary

Rules & Terms

1- Documentary films are eligible for submission.
2- Documentary films submitted to the competition have no time limit.
3- A director or producer may submit a maximum of two films.
4- Films completed after January 1, 2020, are eligible for submission.
5- The final submission deadline is October 1, 2025.
6- English texts will be requested from the finalist films.
7- All submitted films must include English subtitles.
8- The festival organization will invite the directors of the finalist films to Istanbul. However, coverage of expenses is not guaranteed and will be announced at a later date.
9- The jury may grant a special award if deemed appropriate.
10- All copyright responsibilities lie with the filmmaker.
11- Finalist films will be screened in DCP and MP4 formats.
12- Finalist films will be announced on November 1, 2025.
13- All submissions that comply with the above rules will be accepted.
14- The festival management reserves the right to screen the competition films until the end of 2026. No additional fees will be paid to the producer or director for these screenings.
15- Films created entirely by artificial intelligence will not be accepted into the competition.
16- However, such films may be considered at the discretion of the jury.
17- The terms of participation consist of 17 items, including this one.
2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Gabi Norland

    I couldn't attend, but communication around the festival was fantastic.

    February 2026
    Helpful
  • Mustafa Men

    It was a productive festival period in terms of networking. The audience participation was very high at the talk we gave as the film crew. Thanks for everything to the festival team.

    December 2025
    Helpful