Date: 17 September 2025

Finalists Announced for the 3rd International Digital Film Festival Istanbul

 
The International Digital Film Festival Istanbul (DFFI) will be held for the third time between October 18–21, 2025, across various venues in Istanbul. Featuring short film screenings, panels, talks, workshops, and a gala ceremony, the festival will focus on the digital transformation of the film industry.
Finalist Films
Fiction: Across the Waters (France), Claimant (Iran), Garan Tr (Türkiye)
Documentary: Sezenler Olsun (Türkiye), Zurvan (Iran), Middle of the Way (Türkiye)
Experimental: Lost in the Woods (USA), I You He/She We You They (Türkiye), I Feel Like a Piece of Meat (Türkiye)
Animation: Volcelest (France), Blue Dove and the Pomegranate Tree (USA), Milo (Türkiye)
AI-Supported: Memory Maker (USA), Finish and Paranoid Dream (Argentina), The Soviet Phoenix (Germany)
Video Art: You Will Always Be Welcome Here (Italy), Nor Any Memories of the Turning Backs (Türkiye), Let It Grow (China)
Fashion Film: Echo Bloom (Japan), MX. (UK), No-Land: No-Landers (UK)
Pre-Jury
Finalists were selected by Serkan Yıldız (DFA Coordinator), Dr. Öymen Ulusoy (Director), Dr. Lecturer Seda Aktaş (Academic), and Gürkan Yücel (Director).
Theme 2025
This year’s festival theme is “A New Era, A New Narrative: Cinema with Generative Artificial Intelligence.” The theme explores the transformative role of AI in creative processes such as screenwriting, editing, visual design, and music.
Main Jury and Awards
The Main Jury Chair is Özcan Alper. Other jury members include:
  • Bennu Yıldırımlar (Actress)
  • Natali Yeres (Art Director)
  • Prof. Dr. Hülya Önal (Academic)
  • Sadi Çilingir (Film Critic)
  • Asisst. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Bülbül (Academic)
  • Ecem Dilan Köse (Digital Artist)
The festival, organized under the coordination of Digital Film Academy Istanbul, is partnered with Doğuş University, which will provide 100% and 75% master’s degree scholarships to the winning films.
Events will be hosted by Crea Center Çekmeköy, with the support of Digital Film Center and Tümay Özokur Academy. The winning films will be announced at the gala ceremony on October 21, 2025, at the Yeşilçam Cinema Hall, Atatürk Cultural Center.
Awards will be presented in categories including Directing, Screenwriting, Editing, Cinematography, Acting, Sound–Music, and Art Direction, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals Award and the DFA Special Award.
Contact:
İlknur Doruker – DFFI Founder and Festival Director
Tel: +90 532 497 05 93
E-mail: idoruker@digitalfilmfestival.org