Organized by Fotofilm Culture and Arts and Istanbul Gelisim University, the “Fotofilm 6th International Short Film Festival” concluded with an award ceremony held at the Firnas Hall between May 6–8, 2025.
The closing ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Kenan Aydın, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences at Istanbul Gelisim University; Mehmet Oflazoğlu, Founding President of Fotofilm Culture and Arts; Kamran Rassoolzadeh, Founder and Director of our Paris-based partner Youality International Short Film Festival; Dr. Özlem Tuğçe Keleş, Festival Director; Research Assistant Bilge İpek, Festival Coordinator; Dr. Güler Canbulat, Artistic Director; along with faculty members, directors, actors, and students.
In his opening remarks, Festival President Mehmet Oflazoğlu said:
“First of all, we thank Istanbul Gelisim University for their hospitality and collaboration. We extend our gratitude to Festival Director Dr. Özlem Tuğçe Keleş, Coordinator Res. Asst. Bilge İpek, the main and pre-selection juries, and everyone who contributed to the festival. Special thanks to our Paris festival partner Kamran Rassoolzadeh for joining us. As Fotofilm, our mission is to bring together talented short filmmakers from around the world. Participants from all corners of the globe had the opportunity to present and compete with their films in this magnificent city where Europe and Asia meet. We watched many unique and high-quality films. Next year, we look forward to bringing new innovations to our festival. See you again soon.”
Prof. Dr. Kenan Aydın added:
“We thank the entire festival team for their dedication and congratulate all the winners. We were delighted to host the Fotofilm 6th International Short Film Festival. It was a pleasure to see the active participation of both our students and academic staff. We hope to host the festival again next year.”
Festival Organizing Committee: Founding President: Mehmet Oflazoğlu, Festival Director: Dr. Özlem Tuğçe Keleş, Festival Coordinator: Dr. Bilge İpek, Artistic Director: Dr. Güler Canbulat, Graphic Design: Wediacorp,
Jury President: Neşe Kaplan (Academic), Jury Members: Aurore Bourreau (Director, France) Bahadır Kapır (Academic), Baran Gündüzalp (Director), Cangül Akdaş (Academic), Cécile Carayol (Director, France), Gabriella Oana Olaru (Academic, Romania), Mert İzgi (Director), Seyra Kestel (Academic/Director)
Pre-Selection Jury Members: Abdurrahim Karabulut (Director/Academic), Farid Huseynzade (Producer/Academic), Salih Çelik (Cinematographer/Academic), Ali İhsan Öksüz (Director/Academic), Hande Hepşen (Director), Emre Sarı (Academic), Melisa Karabulut (Academic), Betül Öztürk (Academic), Azra Ateş (Academic)
From among submissions received from 65 countries, 75 short films were carefully selected as finalists. These films competed in 25 categories, including: National Fiction, Student Films, and Documentaries; International Fiction, Super Short Film, Student Films, Documentaries, Animation, Experimental, Drama, Fantasy, Thriller, Horror, Trailer, Web Series, Stop Motion; and International Debut Fiction, Student, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, and Drama Short Films. All screenings were free and open to the public.
Selected as the best of the best of all selections
Best of Best Festival film – Bottle George / Best stop motion / Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi
National Short Film
Blue Rabbit / National Short film / Ayten Başer / Turkey
National Student Short Film
Taş / Stone / National Student Short Film / Ayşenur Ateş / Turkey
National Documentary Short Film
Kırmızı Çanta / National Documentary Short film / Mert Kartal / Turkey
International Best Short film
Snowglobes / Best Short film / Gregory Vardarinos / Greece
International Best First Short film
For Good Or Ill, Rain Shall Come / Best First Short film / Madelaine Moore / United Kingdom
International Best Super Short film
The Last Vote / Best Super Short / Pieter De Vos / Belgium
International Best Student Short Film
The Wild Waltz / Best Student Short Film / Rémi Molleyres / Switzerland
Medea / Best Student Short Film / Giuseppe Arcieri / Italy / Encouragement Prize
International Best First Student Short Film
On the wings of Time / Best First Student Short Film / Polina Valerievna Ionidi / Russian
International Best Documentary Short Film
Return of the Grizzly / Best Documentary Short Film / Maaike Middleton / United States
International Best First Documentary Short Film
Between Garbage and God / Best First Documentary Short Film / Andy Svetinsky / United Kingdom
International Best first Animation Short Film
Zombie Ship / Best First Animation Short Film / Art Borowiec / Poland
International Best Animation Short Film
In Half Best / Animation Short Film / Jorge Morais Valle / Spain
International Best Experimental Short Film
The Altar Of Cıcadas / Best Experimental Short Film / Edmund Kurenia / Italy
International Best First Experimental Short Film
Crowd / Best First Experimental Short Film / Eszter Marsalko, Wils Wilson / United Kingdom
International Best Drama Short Film
Verflechtung / Best Drama Short Film / Philip Hofmänner, Simon Jonas Pflanzer / Switzerland
International Best First Drama Short Film
Good Mornıng Mom / Best First Drama Short Film / Oben Yılmaz / Turkey
International Best Comedy Short Film
Oysters / Best Comedy Short Film / González Olivares / Spain
International Best Fantastic Short Film
What Yesterday Will Bring / Best Fantastic Short Film / Olivier Klein / France
International Best Thriller Short Film
The Bomb / Best Thriller Short Film / Onur Doğan / Turkey
International Best Horror short film
The Newlyweds: Blood At the Altar / Best Horror Short Film / Lucien Christian Adderley, Richard “Byrd” Wilson / United States
International Best Sci-Fi Short Film
Verflechtung / Best Sci-Fi Short Film / Philip Hofmänner, Simon Jonas Pflanzer / Switzerland
International Best Video Clip
Sing Me a Song / Best video clip / Ruben Van Leer / Netherlands
International Best Stop Motion
Bottle George / Best stop motion / Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi / Japan
International Best Web serie
Executive Taste / Best Web serie / Maria Em / Russian Federation
International Best Short film script
Femme Fatale / Best Short film script / Özdeniz Pektaş / Turkey
The Human Within Us / Best Short film script / Ülkü Yıldız / Turkey / Teşvik ödülü
