JURY MEMBERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE “NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION”

The jury members for the National Documentary Film Competition, part of Turkey's most established film festival, the Antalya International Golden Orange Film Festival, have been announced. The competition jury members are Amir Etminan, Sevinç Yeşiltaş, and Şafak Bakkalbaşıoğlu.

The jury members for the National Documentary Film Competition, part of the 62nd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, which will take place from October 24 to November 2, 2025, have been announced.

The preliminary selection committee for the National Documentary Film Competition was formed by Prof. Senem Duruel Erkılıç, a faculty member at the Department of Radio, Cinema, and Television at Mersin University's Faculty of Communication; Okan Arpaç, a film writer and program manager for Digiturk Cinema Channels; and Ayşegül Selenga Taşkent, a documentary filmmaker and academic. The films selected were ‘Berona’, ‘KEÇİ501’, ‘Kendal'a Bir Heykel’, ‘Kitabın Rüyası’, ‘Nilgün’, ‘Roman Gibi’, ‘Tanıştığıma Memnun Oldum’, The Making Of Michel Petite’, ‘Üstad Mehmed Siyah Kalem’, and ‘Yerli Yurtsuz’.

Experienced Names Gather on the National Documentary Jury

Amir Etminan, an Iranian film editor, director, and producer based in Tabriz and a jury member of the National Documentary Film Competition, holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Iranian Ancient History Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Theatre Arts (Acting). Amir Etminan also receives professional training in film production and photography.

As a film editor, Etminan has worked with Iran's most renowned directors. Among her notable editing works are Jafar Panahi's No Bears (Venice Film Festival, Special Jury Prize 2022; Chicago IFF, Cinema Courage Award 2022), It Was Just an Accident (Cannes Film Festival, Palme d'Or & Prix de la Citoyenneté 2025), and Panah Panahi's Hit the Road (BFI London Film Festival, Best Film 2021; Singapore IFF, Silver Screen Award 2021). His filmography also includes works by Reza Jamali, Maryam Zahirimehr, and Asghar Yousefi Nezhad. In addition to his achievements in fiction, Etminan directs documentaries such as Parvin Etesami (2014) and Dada Rasul (2016), which explore Iran's cultural and historical narratives. In 2024, he also serves as producer for Parinaz Mehri's short film Maral.

Sevinç Yeşiltaş, a member of the jury for the National Documentary Film Competition, graduated from Marmara University's Department of Turkish Language and Literature and completed her master's degree at Istanbul University's Department of Radio and Television. Yeşiltaş specialised in cultural and artistic programs, as well as documentary films, working as a director and producer on numerous programs and documentaries at TRT between 1988 and 2018. Yeşiltaş, who serves as the founding representative of the TRT Cologne Office, participates in various international training programs and seminars, as well as those organised by EURODOC, BBC, and EBU. She also contributes to the development of documentary cinema through her jury memberships and participation in project evaluation meetings at festivals. Yeşiltaş, who currently provides consultancy services for developing documentary film projects and preparing content, continues her work as a member of the board of directors of the Documentary Filmmakers Association.

The documentary Otel Odaları (Hotel Rooms, 2008), which she directed, won the “Best Documentary” award at the 19th Ankara Film Festival; the same film came second in the Low-Budget Documentaries category at Prixeuropa 2008 Berlin and was deemed worthy of the “Commendable Documentary” award by the Turkish Journalists' Association. Dostluğu Hatırlamak (2011) documentary wins the 2012 Sedat Simavi Television Category Second Place Award. The documentary Bilge Ana Mevlüde Genç (2023) won the Jury Special Award at the 17th Iran International Documentary Film Festival and the second prize at the 14th TRT International Documentary Awards. No One Was Waiting for Me was selected as “Best Documentary” by the Turkish Journalists' Association in 2003. Yeşiltaş's filmography also includes Yaşamın Mirası (2025), Uçan At (2006), Babaanne (2005), Güzergâh Edebiyat Belgesel Serisi (The Route Literature Documentary Series), Bütün Pencereler Turuncu (2003), Dalgasız Bir Deniz Gibi (2003), and Okudukça (1996). Okudukça was awarded the “Best Television Program” prize by the Contemporary Journalists Association in 1996.

Şafak Bakkalbaşıoğlu, jury member of the National Documentary Film Competition, TV Director, Producer, Documentary Producer, and Director, graduated from the Department of Communication at Ankara University's Faculty of Political Sciences in 1985. Bakkalbaşıoğlu began working at the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in his second year of university. Starting his career as a screenwriter, he transitioned into directing and producing roles by 1992. During his time at TRT, he created programs of various genres, including “LafI Güzaf” (dramatic documentary), “Edebiyat Üçlemesi” (dramatic documentary), “Prensesin Böylesi” (drama), and “Ondan Sonra” (magazine program). In 1992, Bakkalbaşıoğlu transferred to ATV and, until 1997, produced many programs such as “A Takımı,” “Televizyon Çocuğu,” “Zaga,” and “Siyaset Meydanı.” Bakkalbaşıoğlu, a founding member of the Television and Cinema Producers Association (TESİYAP), used a finger camera as an action camera for the first time in the world on the program Televizyon Çocuğu (Late Night Show).

Bakkalbaşıoğlu served as Broadcast Director at Star TV, Broadcast Director at MTV Turkey, and Visual Arts Director at Bloomberg HT from 2004 to 2009. After releasing Bakkalbaşıoğlu's documentaries Mahzuni Şerif (2005) and Türkiye'nin Ruhu: Cemil Meriç (2008), his documentary İnkılap ve Dokuz Kardeş (İnkılap Vapuru) was screened at the 28th International Istanbul Film Festival.

Bakkalbaşıoğlu recently served as the general coordinator for the documentary Sanayi Savaşları, which aired on TRT Documentary. His latest productions, 40 and Empati, have been successfully distributed in Turkey and internationally. As a founding partner of BBO Production, Bakkalbaşıoğlu continues to develop original formats and produce innovative content projects.

The awards for the 62nd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival will be announced at the awards ceremony on Saturday, November 1, 2025.