Istanbul cultural institutions host cinema restoration and theatre festivals

Cultural institutions in Istanbul are hosting significant programs focused on heritage and performance. İstanbul Modern Sinema is celebrating World Audiovisual Heritage Day with the “Yeniden Perdede” (Back on Screen) program. In collaboration with the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts Academy Prof. Sami Şekeroğlu Cinema-TV Center, the event showcases 12 restored Turkish films from the last 15 years between October 22 and 27.

The film selection includes historical works such as Muhsin Ertuğrul’s 1935 film “Aysel, Bataklı Damın Kızı” and Metin Erksan’s “Karanlık Dünya” (1952). These screenings aim to highlight the preservation of Turkish cinema and its evolving social and political narratives.

Simultaneously, the İKSV Istanbul Theatre Festival is presenting a diverse program with a focus on themes of memory, language, and communication. Featured productions include “Lacrima” by Caroline Guiela Nguyen, which explores labor chains, and “Ve Ateş Bizi Tüketiyor,” which examines identity and the past. Other works, such as “Dil Broblem Değil” and “Veda Ritüeli,” address linguistic transformation and sign language.