PRESS RELEASE · 20 OCTOBER 2026
In its sixth edition, İzmir Film Lab, part of the İzmir International Short Film Festival, has selected 16 short film projects for its final stage: 8 from İzmir and 8 from across Turkey. Finalists will take part in a mentoring, workshop and pitching programme at İZQ on 5–7 November; awards will be presented on 7 November.
İzmir Film Lab, the year-round development and co-production platform of the İzmir International Short Film Festival, Turkey's only Academy Award-qualifying short film festival, has announced its 2026 finalists. Selected by the Pre-Selection Committee from written submissions in two separate strands held to the same standard, the 16 projects will bring 30 filmmakers together in İzmir. This year the Lab has kept its intake deliberately small so that every finalist project receives a minimum support package guaranteed in writing. Projects were assessed on originality, narrative strength, production vision, feasibility, team capacity, circulation potential, and environmental and social responsibility.
PRE-SELECTION COMMITTEE
Director • Screenwriter
Born in İzmir in 1991, Hikmet Kerem Özcan graduated from the Cinema-TV Department at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. After directing numerous short films, documentaries and commercials, he made his debut feature Hakkı (2024). The film was selected for 26 international and national programmes, including Shanghai and Vancouver, and won 10 awards. He is currently preparing his second feature, Surface Tension.
Director • Screenwriter
Born in İzmir in 1988, Selin Mincinözlü graduated from the Cinema-TV Department at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. She worked in directing teams at Ay Yapım, TİMS and Med Yapım before moving into advertising. Her four short films focus on women and motherhood. Her 2021 film Kök received TRT 12 Punto Short Film Production Support. Her audio fairytale series Uyku Ormanı has reached thousands of listeners. She is developing the documentary Kırmızı Kadınlar.
Producer • Director • Entrepreneur
Kerem Kurtuluş is a filmmaker, director and entrepreneur, and the founder of PARDY Group. A graduate of Istanbul University's Faculty of Communication, he works across cinema, documentary and advertising. His credits include Ateş Sönerken, XY, 06.02 Umut, Toprağa Dönüş and Taşın Altında El. He directed the documentary series Kırmızı Harita for TRT Tabii. In 2026, he received Istanbul University's Social Benefit Award.
FINALISTS
Nuh Lalbay (writer-director), Burak Lalbay (assistant director)
Günce Durmaz (writer-director), Çağlar Bocut (producer · Kolor Productions), Çağıl Saydam (producer)
Elçin Elgin (writer-director), Burak Yedekçi (producer · SOFILM Yapım)
Abdullah Korkut (writer-director), Hüseyin Enes Balcı (producer)
Sevin Yaman (director), Emrah Suat Onat (screenplay), Semih Özanık (animation)
Emre Can Acar (director)
Alaz Burak Şen (writer-director)
Biriz Aydinç Öztüzemen (writer-director, co-producer), Assoc. Prof. Emre Doğan (executive producer), Neslihan Ozan (line producer)
Projects are listed in alphabetical order.
FINALISTS
Burak Şahin (writer-director), Ceren Ayça Şahin (co-producer)
İpek Efe (writer-director), Bünyamin Bayansal (producer · SoberWorks)
Sevgi Esman (director), İris Tahhuşoğlu (producer · Şiyara Film)
Çamran Azizoğlu (director), Rabia Özmen (producer)
Ceren Demirkılınç (Beşir) (writer-director)
Adnan Acı (writer-director)
Gökçe Pekhamarat (director)
Kadri Doğan (writer-director-producer), Ersen Akkol (producer)
Projects are listed in alphabetical order.
This year we set out with 16 projects at İzmir Film Lab. We wanted to give each project the time it deserves, understand its needs more closely and contribute more to its development.
Born within the İzmir International Short Film Festival, İzmir Film Lab is today a meeting ground with its own independent identity, where filmmakers come together, share their experience and grow together.
We believe a good story grows not only from a strong idea, but through the right encounters, shared experiences and relationships built over time.
That is why we do not see İzmir Film Lab as limited to the festival days. We care about sustaining, all year round, the relationships that reach from İzmir to the Mediterranean and on to the international film world, and about helping new ideas and collaborations take shape.
Because sometimes the most valuable thing a project gains is the people it meets along the way.
FINAL PROGRAMME AND AWARDS
The final programme will take place in İzmir from 5–7 November 2026. Filmmakers will have the opportunity to develop their projects through mentoring sessions and workshops. The pitch session will be held on Friday 6 November and the awards ceremony on Saturday 7 November at İZQ.
Following the final programme, projects will continue to receive support through follow-up meetings at 3, 6 and 12 months.
Press contact: info@izmirfilmlab.com
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