The 2nd International Digital Film Festival Istanbul, held from October 17 to 24 this year, announced the awards determined by the Main Jury Committee.
The 2nd DFFI, featuring 22 finalist films from 9 countries, concluded on the evening of October 24, 2024, with an awards ceremony hosted at the Kadıköy Municipality Barış Manço Cultural Center, following free screenings and discussions held at various locations in Istanbul. The short film festival, organized by the New York-based Digital Film Academy, has Doğuş University as its main partner. The festival, chaired by actress Hale Soygazi, emphasized the unifying and transformative role of art.
MAIN JURY CHAIRPERSON HALE SOYGAZI
The main jury of the 2nd International Digital Film Festival Istanbul, chaired by actress Hale Soygazi, includes director Erhan Kozan, cinematographer Feza Çaldıran, screenwriter Kerim Ceylan, film writer and academic Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fırat Sayıcı, academic Prof. Dr. Funda Savaş Gün, and director and screenwriter Dr. Amina Zhaman.
In her opening speech, actress Hale Soygazi stated, “What we need the most in recent times is hope. Art brings hope to all of us in such times. I am happy to be here as the main jury chairperson; we have experienced a wonderful festival process.”
Prof. Dr. Erkut Altındağ, Vice-Rector of Doğuş University, also expressed in his opening speech, “As Doğuş University, we will continue to support our festival as the main partner, and we are very happy to contribute to the originality and development of cinema.”
A SEPARATE CATEGORY FOR AI-ASSISTED FILMS HAS BEEN INTRODUCED
Festival’s founding director, İlknur Doruker, stated, “We established our festival, which focuses on the transformation occurring in conventional production and viewing methods through the digitalization of cinema. Successful filmmakers from many parts of the world have applied to our festival. With DFFI, we aim to simultaneously address quality cinema and the transformation brought about by new technologies, opening new avenues for expression and discussion. In line with these developments, we felt the need to introduce a separate category for AI-assisted films.”
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
UN Sustainable Development Goals Special Award: Hide&Seek (Rami Abbas)
Best Documentary: Between Garbage and God (Dir. Andy Svetinsky) – United Kingdom
Best Fiction: Minus One (Dir. Ömer Ferhat Özmen) – Turkey
Best Animation: Hide&Seek (Dir. Rami Abbas) – Palestine
Best Experimental: Clothesline (Dir. Hüseyin Urçuk) – Turkey
Best AI-Assisted Film: The Abyss (Dir. Andres Aloi) – Argentina
Best Fashion: Maslenitsa (Dir. Polina Kulbachevskaia) – United Kingdom
Best Director: Andy Svetinsky (Between Garbage and God)
Best Screenplay: Ömer Ferhat Özmen (Minus One)
Best Editing: Andy Svetinsky (Between Garbage and God)
Best Cinematography: Andy Svetinsky (Between Garbage and God)
Best Art Direction: Polina Kulbachevskaia (Maslenitsa)
Best Sound/Music: Hide&Seek (Rami Abbas)
DFA Special Award: Dank (Tuvana Simin Günay)
2nd DFFI SUPPORTERS
The festival is organized by the Digital Film Academy, which has been providing film production education in Turkey for 18 years, with Doğuş University serving as the main partner.
Kadıköy Municipality and Çekmeköy Municipality provided promotional support for the festival.
The Kadıköy Municipality Barış Manço Cultural Center and Çekmeköy Municipality Crea Center hosted the film screenings and closing ceremony.
Çekmeköy Municipality and Hibya News Agency offered press support for the festival.
The promotional videos for the festival were prepared by Digital Film Center.
Visual and audio solutions for the festival were supported by Hilal Bayar Photography and Acayip Sesler.
