The winners of the 9th Sabancı Foundation Short Film Competition, organized under the motto “Short Film, Long Impact,” were announced at an award ceremony held on February 5, 2025, at The Seed, Sakıp Sabancı Museum. Centered around the theme of “Climate Migration,” this year’s competition highlighted creative productions that explored the human impact of the climate crisis. The First Prize and the Social Impact Award were both granted to Hasan Hüseyin Alkan for his film “The Last Nest.”
In her opening remarks, Güler Sabancı, Chair of the Sabancı Foundation Board of Trustees, stated: “According to data from the International Organization for Migration, an average of 22 million people have been internally displaced each year over the past decade due to climate change. In the coming decade, up to 1 billion people could be forced to migrate as a result of rising sea levels, floods, drought, extreme temperatures, and food insecurity.”
Held since 2016, the Sabancı Foundation Short Film Competition aims to draw attention to social issues through the power of cinema. This year’s competition, held under the theme “Climate Migration” and the slogan “Film it before they immigrate,” culminated in a ceremony hosted by Güler Sabancı, at The Seed, Sakıp Sabancı Museum.
Among the 10 finalist films:
• First Prize and the Social Impact Award were awarded to “The Last Nest” directed by Hasan Hüseyin Alkan, who received his award from Güler Sabancı.
• Second Prize went to “White Nights” by Çağrı Erdoğdu, presented by Sabancı Foundation General Manager Nevgül Bilsel Safkan.
• Third Prize was awarded to “Minaret” by Turan Güngör, presented by the competition’s Artistic Director Zeynep Atakan.
• The Honorable Mention Award was presented to “Those Left Behind” by Muhammed Emin Çırçır and Mahmut Enes Şahin.
The winners were selected by a distinguished jury, including:
• Director and Writer Ömür Atay
• Acclaimed actress Burcu Biricik and actor Boran Kuzum
• Francine Hetherington Raveney, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) at the Council of Europe and Vice President of the European Women’s Audiovisual Network (EWA)
• Šárka Cimbalová, award-winning international producer
The Social Impact Jury, led by Spanish actress, producer, and author Ruth Gabriel, featured:
• Selin Ünal, UNHCR Türkiye Spokesperson and Head of Communications
• Dr. Akgün İlhan, part-time lecturer at Boğaziçi University
• Binnaz Saktanber, journalist and author
In her speech, Güler Sabancı emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to culture and the arts: “We all believe in the power of culture and art to transform societies. As Sabancı Foundation, we have long regarded art and culture as vital tools for social development and have supported this field through continuous, long-term projects.
The Short Film Competition, launched in 2016 with the motto ‘Short Film, Long Impact,’ has grown into a meaningful initiative that tackles social issues through cinematic storytelling. Each year, we focus on a pressing social issue and support the development of young filmmakers while drawing attention to global challenges.
This year, we are spotlighting a critical topic on the global agenda: Climate Migration. Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue—it has become a global crisis with deep impacts on human life. The International Organization for Migration reports that climate change has forced 22 million people to migrate within their own countries annually over the past decade. In the next decade, up to 1 billion people may be forced to leave their homes due to rising sea levels, extreme weather, and threats to food security.”
The awards for the Sabancı Foundation 9th Short Film Competition were as follows:
• First Prize: 60,000 TRY
• Second Prize: 40,000 TRY
• Third Prize and Social Impact Award: 25,000 TRY each
