Ensar Altay’s debut feature film Kanto made its world premiere at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) on June 19, 2025, competing in the prestigious Asian New Talents section. Co-produced by TRT Cinema and supported by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture, the film explores themes of familial sacrifice and buried secrets through the story of Sude (Didem İnselel), whose life unravels when her mother-in-law mysteriously vanishes. The premiere positions Altay—previously known for documentaries like Kodokushi—as a bold new voice in transnational cinema .
SIFF 2025 hosted 400+ films from 71 countries, with its Asian New Talents section dedicated to emerging directors. Kanto was among only 12 films selected, marking Turkey’s strongest showing in a decade. The festival’s focus on Asia-Pacific co-productions aligns with Turkey’s push for cinematic diplomacy, evidenced by a dedicated “Turkish Cinema Pavilion” at the film market .
Festival director Fu Chong noted: “Kanto’s haunting intimacy reflects our mission to spotlight films that bridge cultural divides.” The selection signals growing Asian interest in Turkish storytelling—a strategic win for TRT Cinema, which secured talks with Chinese distributors Huaxia Film and Alibaba Pictures during the event .
Parallel screenings included Sahibinden Satılık Rahmet (Another Turkish entry) and South Korea’s Return to Dust, creating a dialogue on contemporary Asian narratives. Industry panels highlighted SIFF’s role in funding indie projects, with Kanto eligible for the festival’s $50,000 Best Project Award .
🎥 Ensar Altay: From Documentarian to Visionary Storyteller
Altay’s transition from documentaries (Guardian of Angels, Kodokushi) to fiction mirrors Turkey’s evolving cinematic landscape. Kanto retains his signature realism—long takes, natural lighting—while embracing psychological depth. The director stated: “This film asks how far we’ll go to protect family illusions. It’s personal; my grandmother inspired Sude’s journey.”
His research included interviews with social workers in Istanbul’s Bakırköy district, where 78% of elder-care cases involve “hidden neglect.” Cinematographer Kürşat Üresin translated this into visual metaphors: decaying apartments, muted blues/greys, and deliberate framing that traps characters within their environments .
Kanto previously won the Cinelink Impact Award at Sarajevo Film Festival (2024), praised for its “unflinching examination of generational guilt.” Altay credits TRT’s mentorship program for refining the script: “They pushed me to make Sude’s silence as loud as her screams.”
✨ The Film: A Synopsis with Global Resonance
Plot: Sude (Didem İnselel) spends years caring for her ailing mother-in-law (Yıldız Kültür). When the elderly woman vanishes days before Sude starts a new job, the search exposes buried traumas—including a decades-old secret involving her husband (Sinan Albayrak).
Key Themes:
- Sacrifice vs. Selfhood: Sude’s identity erodes as duty consumes her.
- Complicit Silence: Family members hide truths to preserve dignity.
- Urban Isolation: Istanbul’s sprawling suburbs mirror emotional detachment.
The film avoids melodrama, using sparse dialogue and ambient sound (e.g., ticking clocks, distant traffic) to build tension. A standout sequence—shot in one take—shows Sude discovering a hidden letter while rain streaks the windows like tears .
🏆 Stellar Cast & Technical Brilliance
Didem İnselel delivers a career-defining performance, conveying Sude’s exhaustion through micro-expressions rather than dialogue. Supporting actor Ece Bağcı (as Sude’s skeptical sister) provides searing contrast: “You buried yourself with her!”
Technical Innovations:
- AI-Assisted Color Grading: Enhances emotional weight; flashbacks bleed sepia tones.
- Minimalist Score: Composer Cem Tuncer uses cello drones and fractured piano motifs.
- Adaptive Lighting: Shifts from clinical fluorescents to warm halogens as secrets surface.
Cinematographer Üresin employed vintage Soviet-era lenses for their “organic imperfections,” creating a texture reminiscent of 1970s European arthouse cinema. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio isolates characters within oppressive frames .
📈 Strategic Impact: Turkey’s Cinema Ambitions
Kanto’s Shanghai debut advances Turkey’s 2025 Cultural Bridge Initiative, which funds co-productions with Asian partners. Post-premiere, TRT Cinema announced negotiations for:
- A Chinese remake with Huace Pictures
- Streaming rights to Tencent Video
- Inclusion in Oscar®’s International Feature consideration list
Minister of Culture Mehmet Nuri Ersoy hailed the film as “proof Turkish stories resonate globally.” SIFF attendance surged 40% year-over-year, with Kanto’s screenings selling out—a promising sign for its September 2025 domestic release .
🔮 Why Kanto Matters Beyond Borders
Kanto arrives as global cinema grapples with elder neglect (Japan’s Plan 75), female resilience (Romania’ RMN), and urban alienation. Its Shanghai triumph underscores Turkey’s rising influence in arthouse cinema while offering distributors a potent blend of social relevance and visual poetry. As Altay asserts: “This isn’t just a Turkish story—it’s about anyone who’s loved until it hurts.”
