US3F - Universal Sci-Fi & Fantastic Film Festival

US3F – Universal Sci-fi & Fantastic Film Festival
Celebrating the Imagination that Shapes the Future

With the start of the new year, the award amounts and jury announcements will be published on our official page on Filmfreeway on January 1st.

US3F (Universal Sci-fi & Fantastic Film Festival) is an international platform dedicated to the exploration, elevation, and celebration of science fiction and fantasy cinema. Held every year in Istanbul during May, the festival gathers filmmakers, visionaries, scientists, artists, and audiences from around the world to reflect on the stories that stretch the boundaries of reality—and anticipate the futures we are just beginning to imagine.

Why It Is Held
In an age where the lines between science and fiction are increasingly blurred, US3F was founded to serve as a bridge between speculative storytelling and real-world innovation. The festival provides a creative arena for voices that explore the future of humanity, the challenges of technology, the unknowns of space, AI, Robots, and the possibilities of alternate realities.

US3F is held not only to showcase cinematic talent but also to provoke thought, foster global dialogue, and celebrate the genres that have long inspired scientific discovery, philosophical inquiry, and artistic exploration.

Main Purpose and Mission
To Empower Genre Storytelling: Highlight the cultural and philosophical power of science fiction and fantasy cinema.

To Discover and Promote Talent: Provide a global stage for emerging and established filmmakers.

To Build Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Encourage collaborations between cinema, science, and technology communities.

To Inspire the Public: Create an inclusive and thought-provoking environment where imagination leads social conversation.

US3F positions itself as a platform promoting genre storytelling—providing visibility for filmmakers in sci-fi and fantasy.
By including both international and national competitions, as well as screenplay contests, it nurtures both creators and diverse formats.

The festival’s official website and social media list distinct sections like “Festival About,” “Festival Team,” and “Competitions” including international and national contests .

Join the Imagination Movement
US3F invites filmmakers, writers, artists, academics, and curious minds to participate in shaping the stories that will define tomorrow. Whether through screenings, panels, workshops, or awards, the festival is a call to all dreamers: come imagine the future with us.

The Founders’ Vision
US3F was established by a group of forward-thinking creatives, scientists, digital artists, engineers, film makers and futurists who share a deep passion for speculative storytelling and its potential to shape the future. The festival’s founder, Filiz Dağ, a PhD student, AI robotics and communication scholar, science fiction enthusiast, and cultural innovator, envisioned the event as a “Digital Renaissance” a meeting point of science and art where storytelling becomes a tool for reflection, transformation, and collective dreaming.

Her guiding philosophy:

“The future is not only made of code—it is made of stories. And those who tell them, shape the world.”

Festival Director: Dr. İren Dicle Aytaç
Festival Director: Dr. Melis Kalkan
Festival Director: Dilara Aslantaş
Festival Creative Director: Feyza Kalafat
Festival Science Director: Dr. Melis Kalkan
Festival Art Director: Gizem Ertürk
Festival Head of Advisors: Berk Çoker
Festival Media & Communications Coordinator: Arzu Arda Deger

Our executive board:
Şebnem Kitiş
Atilla Erkmen

Advisor Board
Prof. Dr. Savaş Arslan
Serpil Altın (Awarded Producer)
Özgür Çalışkan

For information & enquiries: aslantasdilara@hotmail.com

REMINDER 1: With the start of the new year, the award amounts and jury announcements will be published on our official page on Filmfreeway on January 1st.

REMINDER 2: All movies should be submitted in DCP and MP4 format by 24th of April otherwise submissions will not be accepted.

REMINDER 3: All selected candidtates will be displayed during the festival in 20 different citys and locations.

Cologne - Ezgi İnal

Budapest - Gülden Şenolan Baykaldı

Sivas- M. Safa Karataş (Sivas, Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi)

Ankara- Işkın Özbulduk Kılıç (Ankara, Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi)

Kars- R. Özgün Kehya (Kars, Kafkas Üniversitesi)

Kocaeli- Gözde İslamoğlu ve Emel Ateşçi (Kocaeli Üniversitesi)

Adana- Aydın Çam (Adana, Çukurova Üniversitesi)

Giresun- Deniz Kurtyılmaz + Gökhan Toptepe (Giresun Üniversitesi)

Tekirdağ- İhsan Koluaçık (Tekirdağ, Namık Kemal Üniversitesi)

Mardin- Yektanurşin Duyan (Mardin, Artuklu Üniversitesi)

Gaziantep- Erdinç Yılmaz ve Özer Özkantar (Gaziantep Üniversitesi)

İzmir- Semra Keleş (İzmir Ekonomi Üniversitesi)

Ordu - Çağrı Yılmaz (Ordu Üniversitesi)

Alanya - Evrim Nacar (Alanya Üniversitesi)

Eskişehir - Özgür Çalışkan (Anadolu Üniversitesi)

JURY MEMBERS

International Jury Members

Ramazan Ekmekçi – Head of Jury – Director and Screenwriter – Türkiye

Hacıbey Heyderli – Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Az TV – Azerbaijan

Barış Erbil – Art and Culture Writer, Voice Artist – Türkiye

Asma El Alaoui – Film Producer and Director, Academic Director – Morocco

Aynur Cronauer – Artist and Educator – Germany

Justin Jamgbadi – Director and Cinematographer – UK

Pre-selection Jury

İren Dicle Aytaç - Film Producer, Academician

Dilara Aslantaş Film Producer, Tech-Entrepreneur

Atilla Erkmen Digital Artist Film Producer

Berk Çoker Film Producer, Author

Gizem Ertürk Film Critics, Art Director

With the start of the new year, the award amounts and jury announcements will be published on our official page on Filmfreeway on January 1st.

Short Film Jury

CGI Award Jury

AI – Artificial Intelligence Short Film Jury

Screenplay Award Competition Jury