The Universal Kids Film Festival in Istanbul Turkey (UKFF), is an annual event that is slowly but surely making an indelible mark among Turkish kids not because of its size or great fanfares, but for its tenacity in advocating peace. Accordingly, films which are appropriate for children and youth are chosen and all corollary activities are planned within this advocacy
One very unique feature of the festival is the ‘Peace Carpet’ which is spread out every year to drum up awareness and involvement of everyone in the advocacy for Peace. The Peace Carpet is composed of two long strips of cloth, one white and the other black. These are usually spread out at the entrance of the festival’s main venue. Visitors are encouraged to sign on the white cloth to affirm their support for Peace and walk on the black cloth to protest against war.
Contrary to the usual red carpet that welcomes luminaries and dignitaries to film festivals, the UKFF welcomes its visitors with its black and white carpets that engages everyone in an interactive performance for Peace. The founder of the festival, Rowena Martinez Ulayan, a Filipino artist based in Turkey who strongly advocates Peace says: We create to inspire, we inspire to create Peace for an inspired society will never create war. With this guiding principle, the festival brings a torchlight of hope to an otherwise war-torn region.

Awards & Prizes

Children and Youth Film Awards for:
Best Full-Length Feature Film
Best Full-Length Documentary Film
Best Short Film
Best Short Documentary Film
Best Student Film

Rules & Terms

The Universal Kids Film Festival invites all filmmakers, Producers and Distribution Companies to submit their films for our festival within the Rules and Regulations.
Films may be submitted in the following categories:
a. Feature-length films (animation and Live Action)
b. Feature Length Documentary
c. Short animation and live-action
d. Short Documentary Film
e. Student Film
Films with dialogues, which are not in English should be subtitled in English.
DCP format
15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Elena Rubashevska

    Thanks Universal Kids Film Festival, for the warm welcome and excellent organization. We're truly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Universal Kids Film Festival. Receiving the "Peace Award" for Teddy Bear means a lot to us. Looking forward to meeting again next year at the 12th Universal Kids Film Festival."

    November 2023
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  • Zeynab Gurbanova

    Thank you so much for that Festival. We're so happy for 9 years old filmmaker - Kovsar Gurban, that her short animated film was been selected for the Festival. Although we bought our tickets for participating at the Festival, but Unfortunately we couldn't. But so many greetings for invitation. Hope to be selected in new Festival year and hope that we'll participate physically at the Festival. Loves from Azerbaijan.

    November 2023
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  • Emilio Martí-López

    This was a really cute little film festival: the staff and direction are very attentive and they created a very warmth atmosphere that facilitated conversations and networking amongst the professionals that attended the event. I was invited both as a director and educator and I really enjoyed everything I could do, see and share. Thank you, teşekkürler!

    November 2023
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  • Jule Körperich

    Thank you so much for having our film "The way to a man's heart" at our lovely festival! Hope to see you one day in real life!

    November 2022
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  • Elena SURINA

    I was so happy to participate at Universal kids film festival. They invited me at Istanbul Tuzla, paid the 5 stars hotel and there was a cultural program for foreign participants. Very good festival, very professional. Thank you a lot the festival director Rowena and all volunteers.

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Elena for your beautiful film and for your presence. We hope to have you again with your next film.