The first day of the festival, May 6, featured screenings of short films from both national and international creators. Throughout the day, audiences had the opportunity to watch a wide selection of high-quality works, offering students rich artistic and technical insights. The screenings provided exposure to various storytelling styles, cinematic aesthetics, and the language of international cinema.
While the screenings continued on May 7, the festival also hosted two hands-on workshops that offered participants valuable practical experience. The first workshop, led by actress Ece Özdikici, focused on acting techniques. Participants engaged in practical training on stage performance, character analysis, and acting methods under Özdikici’s guidance. The second workshop, facilitated by photographer Mehmet Özşimşek, centered on photography. This session covered a broad range of topics, from fundamental technical skills to creative composition, allowing participants to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical shooting experience.
The final day of the festival, May 8, featured ongoing film screenings and concluded with an award ceremony that brought the event to an exciting close. The ceremony was attended by renowned musician and cinema figure Cahit Berkay and drew great interest from the audience.
The award ceremony opened with a speech by Prof. Dr. Kenan Aydın, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences. Following this, Mehmet Oflazoğlu, Director of the Foto Film Festival; Kamran Rasoolzadeh, Founding Director of the Youality Film Festival; and Prof. Dr. Fatime Neşe Kaplan, Chair of the Jury, shared their thoughts on the festival and the transformative power of art.
Later in the program, Dr. Bilge İpek, Festival Coordinator and Research Assistant, took the stage to provide an overview of the festival process. Subsequently, awards determined by the jury were presented to their recipients. The event’s evaluation of works in both cinema and photography, high student participation, and the involvement of artists from diverse disciplines reflected the multidimensional success of the festival.
The university’s collaboration with international festivals continues to support students' active involvement in artistic production and provides opportunities for them to integrate into the global art network. Through Youality and the Foto Film Festival, students were not only able to attend screenings but also gained inspiration and insight through direct interaction with experienced professionals from the industry.
