The Payoff

Abandoned by vacationers, distressed and angry dogs roam the streets of a seaside town but a far worse fate awaits them. Just like soldiers sent to combat, good-for-nothing elderly folk, women slaughtered by gender inequality and refugees fleeing war.

  • Handan Ipekci
    Director
  • Handan Ipekci
    Writer
  • Handan Ipekci
    Producer
  • Verona Meier
    Producer
  • Dasy(dog)
    Key Cast
    "Lussy"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    DİYET
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    49,783 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Türkiye
  • Country of Filming:
    Türkiye
  • Language:
    No Dialogue
  • Shooting Format:
    Redcode raw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16/9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Tampere Film Festival-INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
    Tampere
    Finland
    March 10, 2023
    World Premier
    International Competition
  • Mediterraneo Festival Corto-OFFICIAL SELECTION
    Diamente
    Italy
    July 5, 2023
    European Premier
    Official Selection
  • River Film Festival-OFFICIAL SELECTION
    Padova
    Italy
    Official Selection
  • Lulea International Film Festival-FINALIST
    Lulea
    Sweden
    August 6, 2023
    Sweden Premier
    Finalist
  • Istanbul International Film Festival-NATIONAL COMPETITION
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    April 15, 2023
    National Premier
    Competition Section
  • Flying Broom International Women's Film Festival
    Ankara
    Turkey
    June 6, 2023
    National Selection
  • Austrian Filmfestival-SPECIAL MENTION
    Wien
    Austria
    Austria Premier
    Special Mention
  • 41st Festival Tous Courts -GRAND PRIZE
    Aix-en-Provence
    France
    November 29, 2023
    France Premier
    GRAND PRIZE
Director Biography - Handan Ipekci

Ipekçi graduated from Gazi University, Faculty of Communication with a degree in Radio & Television in 1986.

In 1994, Ipekci made “Babam Askerde (Dad in The Army)”, a drama about the military coup of 1980 from the eyes of children. The film was screened at many festivals including the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama section. The film was awarded the Best Promising Director and Best Promising Scriptwriter awards at the 7th Ankara International Film Festival.

In 2001, a time when Kurdish issues were taboo in Turkey, Ipekci made “Büyük Adam Küçük Aşk (Hejar-Big Man Little Love)”, another drama about the relation between a young Kurdish war victim and a judge, constructed on the theme of “diversity is richness”. The movie won 21 awards including Best Film and Best Script awards at the 38th Antalya Altın Portakal Film Festival.

In 2007, Ipekçi released Saklı Yüzler (Hidden Faces), a drama about violence against women and honour killings. The film won several awards at international festivals.

In 2011, she made the commercial film "Çınar Ağacı" with BKM, one of Turkey's largest production companies.

In 2018, she made the documentary "Women with Tip-Tilted Noses", which examines the concept of "Beauty".

Between 2010-2013, she lectured scriptwriting at the Cinema & Television Department of Marmara University, the Communication Faculty of İzmir Economy University, and Nazım Hikmet Academy.

She still continues her personal script workshops.

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Director Statement

The film is based on symbols and sounds to create a symbolic narrative in which the figures build on feelings of indifference, alienation, despair and confinement.

These include a hazy layer of smog, deserted streets, stray dogs, young men sent to war, female corpses washing up on the shore, war-torn refugees trying to escape in inflatable boats and abandoned elderly folk. These figures are instrumental in creating a dystopian atmosphere which are complemented with cold colours.

There is no dialogue in the film, effectively enhancing the natural sounds, sound effects, and music. The dystopic atmosphere is augmented with howling winds, barking dogs, wild waves crashing on the shore, the noise of military training from the barracks on the other side of the mountain.

Although the film uses a seaside town on the Aegean coast of Turkey as a setting, The World is viewed through the figures used and the dystopian atmosphere created.