Yeşim Ustaoğlu and cast premiere Artakalan at Antalya Film Festival

The film Artakalan, competing in the National Feature Film category at the 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, held its premiere in Antalya. Following the screening, director Yeşim Ustaoğlu and cast members Öykü Karayel, Metin Akdülger, Ali Kayra Kul, and İlyas Salman met with the audience to discuss the production.

Ustaoğlu described the protagonist, Elif, as undergoing both an internal and physical journey to find her own voice and rediscover a connection to life. The director noted that the film explores themes of change and hope, moving from a state of apathy toward a renewed engagement with the world. The creative process involved collaborations with poet Birhan Keskin.

Lead actress Öykü Karayel shared a personal connection to the role, noting how Birhan Keskin’s poem ‘Taş’ helped her understand the character. Actor Metin Akdülger discussed his character Memo’s transformation regarding masculinity and identity, while veteran actor İlyas Salman reflected on his personal history and his choice of art as a way to cope with the fear of death.