SEATTLE — The Seattle Turkish Film Festival launched in 2012 as a part of celebrations within the Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington (TACAWA).
TACAWA leaders say the film festival "has become one of the most admired and venerated events."
The screenings start on Friday, Nov. 17, with an evening film.
In its 11th year, the Seattle Turkish Film Festival (STFF) will have all screenings at the SIFF Cinema Uptown.
The three-day event has a “see and be seen” gala party happening at the Museum of Pop Culture MoPOP on the night of Nov. 18, featuring KEXP DJ Darek Mazzone.
STFF director Semih Tareen said this year's festival will include five feature films, two feature documentaries and two cult-classic “fantastik” films from the vaults of 1970s and 1980s Turkish cinema.
Among about 200 short film submissions received this year, 11 fiction and six documentary short films have been selected. This year, STFF will present the audience with a total of seven feature-length films. To view the film selection, click here.
Tareen said the STFF takes great pride in featuring the work of female filmmakers.
"Having enough women filmmakers represented is a challenge in many film festivals," Tareen said. "We are fortunate to have representation both in our festival programmers and official selections."
STFF is partnering with Scarecrow Video to bring two cult classics to the Seattle audience which will Tareen said will be a "fun late-night crowd."
There will also be a Seattle premiere of Cannes Film Festival best actress winner and Palme d’Or nominee film from Turkey.
To purchase tickets to the STFF and the gala, click here.