On the fourth day of the 29th Flying Broom International Women's Film Festival, cinema was discussed not only as an art form but also as a medium that makes social memory and solidarity visible. Events held at the Kült Kavaklıdere Cinema in Ankara emphasized women’s labor, industry inequalities, and the importance of organization.
One of the most notable topics of the day was the panel titled "Women’s Labor in Technical Fields in Turkey’s Cinema and TV Industries." The session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Mutlu Binark, featured composer, sound engineer, and sound designer Mine Pakel, editor Tuvana Simin Günay, and writer Dr. Aysun Öner.
Mine Pakel shared the obstacles she faced in the early years of her career and the difficulties in receiving fair financial compensation for her work. Tuvana Simin Günay highlighted the distrust toward women in technical roles and the frequent condescending attitudes she encountered.
Dr. Aysun Öner emphasized that women are often sidelined before even being hired due to the "heavy equipment" argument and become vulnerable to unpaid labor exploitation in intern or assistant positions. The panel also discussed "Susma Bitsin" and the Editors’ Solidarity (KUDA) initiatives, which combat harassment and discrimination in the industry.
The event underscored that an equal future in cinema is only possible through organization and solidarity networks. It was conveyed that as women’s visibility in technical fields increases, the entrenched habits of the industry can also change.
Film Screenings Continued with a Busy Festival Program
The festival featured the "Short Reflections from Around the World" selection, bringing together works by women directors from various countries. The film "Three Ways of Return," co-directed by Xiaolu Guo, Andrea Luka Zimmerman, and Mania Akbari, was also screened.
At the 2:00 PM session, Sophie Heldman’s "The Education of Jane Cumming" was shown, followed by a discussion on historical justice with producer Nadira Murray. In the same session, Farnoosh Samadi’s "Between Dreams and Hopes" was also screened.
The 4:30 PM session featured the Emmy-winning director Lorena Luciano’s documentary "Nuns Against the Vatican." After the screening, a conversation took place with producer Filippo Piscopo and Vida, one of the nuns featured in the film. Lucia Murat’s "Memories Told to Me" was also shown during this session.
At 7:00 PM, the films "On the Head of the Dry Stone," co-directed by Yeşim Ustaoğlu and Selen Heinz, and Bérangère McNeese’s "Girls in the Sky" were screened. The day concluded with the 9:30 PM session featuring Yulia Lokshina’s "Near Heaven" and Lucia Murat’s "Playtime," each followed by discussions with the directors.
Middle East, Memory, and Resistance Also Focus of the Program
On the fourth day, the panel "Living in Cinema: Women, Memory, and Resistance in the Middle East" was held. Moderated by Tuğçe Kutlu from Ankara University, the session included directors Seemab Gul and Gözde Kural as speakers.
Seemab Gul’s "Ghost School" was re-screened at the 4:30 PM session, with the director participating in a Q&A. At 7:00 PM, Lucia Murat’s "How Beautiful It Is to See You Alive" and Sophie Heldman’s "The Education of Jane Cumming" were shown again.
The day’s finale at 9:30 PM featured Gözde Kural’s "Cinema Jazireh," presented with the participation of the film crew. In the same session, Yeşim Ustaoğlu and Selen Heinz’s "On the Head of the Dry Stone" was also re-screened with director discussions.
The festival program combined discussions on women’s labor in cinema with film screenings, making the inequalities in technical fields and the need for solidarity a central theme of the event.
