From all over the world, the International Istanbul Short Film Festival / The Writer's Journey is preparing to embrace everyone who is creative, original, brave and has a problem to express.
You can be sure that we will help your story get a chance to stand out and overcome sectoral challenges.

Every idea has the luxury of being seen and appreciated.

It may be your first work, or you may be an experienced one. You can be assertive in composition and colors. At the Writer's Journey, for the first time, non-budgeted filmmakers will be screened together with famous talents and experienced professionals having multi-million dollar budgets at the most eclectic film festival anywhere in the world.

This year, our organizations will be opening their doors with a surprise ceremony where you can experience the magical atmosphere of Istanbul. We will be happy to share your excitement while welcoming our guests from all over the world.

A note for all the candidates competing in the national category: Your projects will be evaluated carefully.

The world of short films is as vast as an ocean and your competitors are much more than you think. The purpose of the foundation of our festival is to increase the chance of the potential you want to reveal and to be on your side regarding the issues you want to express. Be sure that each application will be evaluated devotedly.
While we do not want to put limits on the application categories, we tried to make the platform as free as possible so that they can be evaluated as broadly as possible.
We are aware that the path you have taken with your issue is full of difficult and courageous themes. We hope that we can create memories of walking together on your life journey.

As an additional and important category, we wanted to include a Vegan themed category related to animal rights. In our world where global warming, challenging pandemic conditions and economic processes are not going well, we will be looking forward to your works that will reveal our awareness. The grief of the world triggers us all at some point. We are all connected to each other by invisible threads, and it is our responsibility to make the cosmic bond healthy in relation to the grief of the world. We find this issue important at the festival.

While aiming for a spectacular night that includes an awards ceremony, International Istanbul Short Film & the Writer’s Journey will make the pre-selection on a monthly basis. Monthly evaluations will be made only among the jury members and will not be published. Each month's selections will be shortlisted for a grand elimination at the end of the year, and finally, from these, the finalists will be selected.

We would like you to be sure that we will be there and help you whenever you want. Let's get together!

Event venue : AKM YEŞİLÇAM SİNEMASI
The event date is May 17,2025
Award ceremony : 19:00/ 23:00

🔔 Important Reminder:
During the announcement period of the festival results, the "Selection", "Finalist", and "Award Winner" badges represent different outcomes.

Projects that receive the "Selection" badge will be included in the online and/or physical screenings organized by the festival on dates determined by the festival committee.

If deemed appropriate by the festival, Q&A sessions and talks may also be held as part of the screening events.

Announcements regarding these events will be made on the official festival website and social media channels.

Project owners are allowed to use the "Selection" badge on their posters and promotional materials.

🔔 Finalist Badge Notice:
Projects that receive the "Finalist" badge will be contacted directly by the Festival Director. If selected to receive an award in their respective category, project owners will be informed accordingly.

Projects that do not receive any email or phone call from the festival management are considered to have successfully reached the "Finalist" stage, but are not among the award recipients.

Project owners are permitted to display and use the "Finalist" badge in their materials and promotional content.

🔔 Award Winner Badge Notice:
The "Award Winner" badge is granted to selected projects that have received an award in specific categories designated by the festival.

Projects receiving the "Award Winner" badge will be officially informed by the festival management, and invitations for the award ceremony will be sent to the respective project owners.

Throughout 2025, the online and/or physical screenings of “Official Selection” and “Finalist” films will continue in accordance with decisions made by the festival management.
We kindly ask you to stay informed by following our updates and regularly checking your email inboxes.

https://www.youtube.com/@setenayaciuruc

Awards & Prizes

Each short film will be reviewed at least for three judges after the film is scored by our screening team. Our judges team includes artists from the Turkey, Italy and Sweden.

There will be an award ceremony for the "award winner" badge holders. Film screenings will be organized for "selection" and "finalist" badge holders on dates to be determined.

--- FILM AWARDS ---
*Trophy with certificates All Participants
Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Under 5 Minute Film
Best Indie Feature
Best Indie Short
Best Series Pilot
Best Web-Series
Best Animation
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short
Best Student Film
Best Silent Film
Best Experimental Film
Best Music Video
Best Trailer
Best Commercial
Best Comedy Film
Best Dark Comedy Film
Best Adventure Film
Best Action Film
Best Thriller Film
Best Sci-Fi Film
Best Horror Film
Best Drama Film
Best Historical Film
Best War Film
Best Noir Film
Best Western Film
Best Romance Film
Best Musical Film
Best Parody Film
Best LGBTQ Film
Best Biographical Film
Best Nature Film
Best Inspirational Film
Best Sport Film
Best Director - Feature
Best Director - Short
Best 1st time Director - Feature
Best 1st time Director - Short
Best Art Director
Best Producer
Best 1st time Producer
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Acting Ensemble
Best Acting Duo
Best Monologue
Best Acting Debut
Best Child Actor & Actress
Best Voice Over
Best Stunt Performer
Best Scenography
Best Natural Scenography
Best Costumes
Best Visual Effects
Best Cinematography
Best Make-Up
Best Original Prop/Mock-up
Best Soundtrack
Best Main Theme
Best Song
Best Sound Design
Best Drone Video
Best Fight Choreography
Best Dance Choreography
Best Editing
Best Screenplay
Best Original Story
Best Poster
Best Feature Script
Best Series Pilot Script
Best Television Script
Best Short Script
Best Comedy Script
Best Thriller Script
Best Fantasy Script
Best Sci-Fi Script
Best Horror Script
Best Drama Script
Best Romance Script
Best 1st Time Screenwriter - Feature
Best 1st Time Screenwriter - Short
Best Original Script
Best Picture
Best Fight Choreography

Rules & Terms

RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR 2023 SUBMISSIONS
The following is an explanation of the Rules and Guidelines governing film submissions to the 2023 International İstanbul Short Film & The Writer’s Journey Festival.. Compliance with these Rules and Guidelines is necessary in order to participate in the Film Festival. Submission of a film implies unconditional acceptance of the Rules & Guidelines, therefore, please carefully read through the Rules prior to submitting your film. If you have any questions, please contact the International İstanbul Short Film Fest / The Writer’s Journey Festival : official@setenayaci.com contact@thewritersjourneyiisff.com
1. The Entrant/s submitting the film must hold all legal rights for the submission, as well as all necessary clearances for public exhibition.
2. The Filmmaker/s retain/s all submission and intellectual property rights.
3. Films must be submitted electronically via FilmFreeway.
The Filmmaker/s is/are responsible for making sure all submission materials are submitted by the submission deadline indicated. If your film does not arrive or is not uploaded by the deadline for which you have registered, you may be required to pay the higher submission fee or withdrawn.
7. Each submission must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. Submission fees are in are U.S. Dollars per submission and is non-refundable. Cash is not accepted.
9. Subtitles must be in English. All foreign-language films must be submitted with English subtitles. If we discover a foreign-language submission is missing subtitles, we will attempt to email the submitter for an update. If the submitter fails to provide working subtitles by the final submission deadline, the project will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified without refund of submission fees.
Please keep screener links and passwords up-to-date and notify the IİSFF office promptly with any changes. Please test your media prior to submission to make sure they run properly and are not damaged.
11. Filmmakers are allowed to submit more than one film for the Festival provided that each film is submitted separately and meet IİSFF guidelines.
12. Filmmakers are allowed to re-submit a film that was previously submitted provided significant changes were made and all eligibility requirements are met. When re-submitting the film, include a brief letter detailing the changes made.
13. A student submitting a film must provide a photocopy of a current and valid student ID or a letter from his/her school verifying enrollment.
If you would like your materials returned after the festival, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
15. Entrants may contact the IİSFF to find out if the Festival received the submission: setenayuruc@gmail.com. Filmmakers submitting through FilmFreeway can check their status through the website.
16. The Filmmaker is responsible for all inbound shipping costs, domestic or international.
17. All personal contact information is to remain confidential and not to be shared with any third parties.
18. IİSFF reserves the right to use images from films selected in the Festival for marketing purposes.
All decisions regarding award winners are considered final and incontestable.
20. All films submitted must have been completed between March 2020 and June 2022
21. Applicants acknowledge that IİSFF reserves the right to change the nature of screenings and events due to circumstances related to public health and welfare or at the direction of local, state, or federal authorities. In such cases, no submission refunds shall be issued.

warning for movie screenings:
you will be notified by an e-mail that we have requested your movie from you. If you do not submit your movie in the conditions we request, you will not be on the screening calendar. Please consider the conditions carefully.

2025 Önemli Hatırlatma: Sertifikalar ve Program Bilgilendirmesi:
2025 yılı kapsamında “Selection” ve “Finalist” rozeti almaya hak kazanan projeler için sertifikalar hazırlanmakta ve ilgili e-posta adreslerine gönderilmektedir. Sertifikanızın tarafınıza ulaşabilmesi için e-posta kutunuzu (ve gerekirse spam klasörünüzü) kontrol etmenizi önemle rica ederiz.

Gösterim takvimi ve söyleşi planlamaları ise yakın gelecekte tamamlanacak olup, tüm proje sahiplerine detaylı bilgilendirme ayrıca iletilecektir.

Important Reminder: Certificates and Program Updates 2025:
Certificates for the projects awarded with the “Selection” and “Finalist” badges for the 2025 edition are currently being prepared and sent to the respective email addresses. We kindly ask you to check your inbox (and spam folder, if necessary) to ensure you receive your certificate.

The screening schedule and Q&A session plans are in the process of being finalized. All project owners will be informed as soon as the program details are available
36 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ogün Mert Kurt

    Bence kısıtlı olanaklara rağmen güzel bir film festivali oldu. Benim için Tatil isimli kısa filmimle en iyi yönetmen ödülünü kazanmak güzel bir duyguydu. Bu film festivalinin gelecek yıllarda da sürmesi ve devam etmesi kanaatindeyim. Çünkü şu anda Türkiye'de bazı film festivallerinde filmleri ön elemeyi geçemeyen ve kısıtlı bütçeyle kısa film üreten sinemacılar için bu film festivalini çöldeki vaha olarak görüyorum. Türkiye'de bu tarzda bir film festivalinin olmasının şart olduğunu düşünüyorum.

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Merhaba,
    Nazik ve samimi geri bildiriminiz için teşekkür ederiz. Kısıtlı olanaklara rağmen festivalimizi “çöldeki bir vaha” olarak görmeniz, bizim için büyük bir ilham kaynağı oldu. Bu sözler, neden bu festivali hayata geçirdiğimizi ve neden sürdürmeye kararlı olduğumuzu çok güzel özetliyor.
    “Tatil” filmiyle en iyi yönetmen ödülünü kazanmanız bizleri de çok mutlu etti. Bu ödülün sizin gibi özveriyle üreten bir sinemacıya gitmiş olması festivalimizin ruhuyla tamamen örtüşüyor.
    Söylediklerinize katılmakla birlikte, Türkiye'de kısa film üreten pek çok yetenekli sinemacının, sadece bütçe ya da görünürlük yetersizliği sebebiyle kendilerini ifade edemediklerine sıkça tanıklık ediyoruz. Bizim amacımız tam da bu noktada devreye girmek — yeni seslere alan açmak, özenle üretilmiş her hikâyeye bir sahne sunmak.
    Desteğiniz ve güzel dilekleriniz bize güç verdi. Festivalimizin sonraki yıllarında da sizleri aramızda görmek dileğiyle.

  • Patrizia Lazzari

    Onorate di aver ricevuto il premio per il nostro documentario, scelto tra le tantissime opere visionate, abbiamo voluto riceverlo di persona e abbiamo raggiunto dall'Italia la straordinaria città di Istanbul. Al festival abbiamo ricevuto una calorosa e gentilissima accoglienza in una cerimonia di premiazione perfetta sotto ogni punto di vista. Ad ogni opera, ad ogni regista è stato dato ampio spazio e molta considerazione oltre alle bellissime targhe-premio. Ringrazio la direttrice del festival Setenay Acì, la giuria, e tutto lo staff per questo bellissima menifestazione a cui auguro tutto il successo che si merita e un lunghissimo cammino nel futuro.

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Hello,
    Thank you sincerely for your kind and supportive words. It was a true pleasure to get to know you and to have your outstanding project as part of our festival. We are especially happy that you are returning to your home country, Italy, with an award from Istanbul — a city you love. Italy is also a place we hold dear to our hearts.
    Wishing you continued success, with love and respect.

  • Davoud Abdolmaleki

    I had a very good and useful experience attending the
    INTERNATIONAL İSTANBUL SHORT FILM & THE WRITER'S JOURNEY FESTIVAL. This cinematic event will have a very good future. I would like to thank the organizing team of this festival. Wishing you success.

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your kind words and valuable feedback.
    We're truly happy to hear that you had a meaningful experience at the International Istanbul Short Film & The Writer's Journey Festival.
    Your support and encouragement mean a lot to us.
    We hope to welcome you again in the coming editions.
    Warmest regards

  • pandapart ©

    Thank you for the welcoming of the festival committee.

    Even though the festival aims to promote international independent films and bring new filmmakers to the fore, it still needs to make an effort to welcome filmmakers from different countries... the ceremony was in Turkish, untranslated... we should have had an English translator or at least displayed the awards on the screen in English.

    We didn't know what the winning films had won. We had to wait until the end of the ceremony to ask the winners 😂

    By the way, the festival doesn't actually take place at the Ataturk Cultural Center. But in an independent cinema underneath. That's all very well for a festival like this, but the festival deserves to communicate about it much better and be more transparent.

    This in no way detracts from the good time we had. Setenay and Kassim gave us a warm welcome, both organizers, and we wish them all the best for a festival as promising as theirs.

    Thanks to IISFF ❤️

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Hello,
    We have also decided to organize the festival in parts or make some revisions for similar reasons. In the early years of the festival, we preferred a controlled growth. However, due to the high number of submissions and the need to plan travel for international guests, we are now working on larger-scale events.
    We hope these adjustments will help us improve in many areas and lead to a more comfortable and enriching festival journey.
    We are also very happy to have met you.
    Wishing you continued success, and thank you for your supportive feedback.

  • Maaike Vader

    Selected but nothing was communicated. is it real?

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Hello,
    If you check your emails, you will find the notification and your certificate.
    Here are the details we have on file, along with the date and time we sent the email:

    Date: Wed, 21 May 2025 02:06:28 +0300
    From: official@setenayaci.com
    To: m.vvvader@gmail.com
    Subject: Festival Selection Announcement

    Before posting a negative comment, we kindly ask that you read the festival rules, check your email inboxes, and reach out directly to the festival management. This way, misunderstandings and inaccurate messages can be avoided.