“Collaboration is key. Festivals thrive when communities and regions work together.”

By Ercument Akman

On June 11, 2025, at 7 pm ET, fifteen Turkish cinema enthusiasts from across the US and Canada gathered on Zoom to share ideas, challenges, and aspirations around launching Turkish film festivals in North America.
The meeting was hosted by me, as an independent film curator and editor of the Turkish
Cinema Newsletter with special guest Mr. Erkut Gömülü, director and founder of the Boston Turkish Film Festival the longest continuously running Turkish film festival in the US. 
Mr. Gömülü offered practical advice: start small, focus on selecting compelling films, and grow gradually. In the early years, it is more important to bring rare, high-quality films to local audiences than to invest in expensive features like celebrity appearances.
However, as interest builds, organizers might consider inviting Turkish actors and directors to attend in person. 
He emphasized the importance of setting a realistic, conservative budget and exploring all funding avenues—from grants to sponsorships. Contingency funds are essential for unexpected costs, and any surplus should be reinvested into future festivals. 
Reaching a large enough audience to cover costs requires a thoughtful strategy. Mr. Gömülü stressed the importance of passion and persistence. He recommended partnering with existing arts and culture festivals, reaching out to academic institutions, and tapping into university communities. Early collaborations with the Harvard Film Archive and Boston University’s College of Fine Arts were critical to his festival’s success.


A recurring theme throughout the conversation was collaboration. Boston’s partnerships with local colleges, Seattle’s coordination with other ethnic film festivals, and joint initiatives between regions all underscored the power of working together. 
The Seattle Turkish Film Festival (STFF), led by Mr. Semih Tareen, recently supported a Texas-based team in launching their own festival. Mr. Tareen also advocates inter-community outreach exemplified by his collaboration with the Italian Film Festival in Seattle and extended an open offer to support similar initiatives across North America. 
An especially innovative move by STFF has been its partnership with the Vancouver Turkish Film Festival (VTFF). By scheduling their festivals back-to-back, films and visiting filmmakers can travel from Seattle to Vancouver, maximizing exposure.
Many attendees are active volunteers within larger cultural organizations. The team from California, for example, is preparing to celebrate 50 years of community presence in the Golden state. 
Despite this long-standing history, securing arts funding remains a struggle—particularly for Turkish-focused initiatives. Regional collaboration, such as sharing resources between states and provinces, may offer a path forward. 
Several key topics emerged during the discussion: how to choose the right venues, obtain screening rights, navigate funding sources, and market effectively. For many, the biggest challenge is the limited representation—or misrepresentation—of Turkish culture in mainstream North American media. This presents both an obstacle and an opportunity.  The conversation ended on an optimistic note: while the primary barrier to launching Turkish film festivals remains funding, there are many tested and emerging pathways to success. Veterans like Mr. Gömülü, Mr. Akman, and Mr. Tareen encouraged continued dialogue, mentorship, and cooperation—planting the seeds for a vibrant future for Turkish cinema in North America. 
Future Zoom meetings are planned to be conducted in Turkish, and all related correspondence will be in English.
Please contact: eackman@gmail.com
Article based on minutes recorded and written by Billie Akman. ■

Next month’s article will focus on new Turkish films and upcoming trends.
See you at the movies.

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