This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Privacy Overview
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
3rd Party Cookies
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
Director's Statement
After making several award-winning shorts in Turkey, Yeşim Ustaoğlu made her feature film debut in 1994 with THE TRACE. She received international recognition for her JOURNEY TO THE SUN. In competition at the Berlin IFF in 1999, it received the Blue Angel Award (Best European Film) and the Peace Prize. With the story of a courageous friendship undaunted by political cruelty, the film swept the Istanbul FF, winning Best Film, Best Director, the FIPRESCI Prize and the Audience Award. Her third film, WAITING FOR THE CLOUDS, the story of a woman forced to live for 50 years with the haunting secrets of a hidden identity, was awarded NHK Sundance - International Film-maker's Award and thus established a strong reputation for the director. With her fourth film, PANDORA'S BOX, the story of an old woman suffering from Alzheimer disease, Yeşim Ustaoğlu won the Best Film and Best Actress award in San Sebastian in 2008, continued to travel many international festivals and was also released theatrically in many countries.