Yellow Letters - İlker Çatak (Opening Film FEST 2026)
Opening Session
SUN JUN 21 - 5 pm
MULTIMEIOS AUDITORIUM
Yellow Letters by Ilker Çatak | Germany, France, Turkey | 128 min
A teacher at Ankara University, Aziz receives the "yellow letter" which arbitrarily informs him that his contract has been terminated. When his wife, Derya, a renowned actress at the National Theatre, also receives one, the couple find themselves in a distressing situation. Condemned for their beliefs, they are forced to seek refuge in Istanbul, at the home of his mother. The balance between this new precarious situation and their political commitment will put the couple’s relationship to the test.
© Florian Mag
İlker Çatak was born in Berlin in 1984 and grew up in Istanbul. He studied film directing in Berlin and Hamburg. His graduation short film, SADAKAT – TREUE (2014), received numerous awards, including the Student Academy Award® for Best International Short Film.
His first feature film, "ONCE UPON A TIME IN INDIAN COUNTRY", had its commercial release in 2017.
Two years later, he directed " I WAS, I AM, I WILL BE" (2019), produced by Ingo Fliess. Having had its world premiere at the Munich Film Festival, the film received several awards.
In 2021, Çatak adapted "RÄUBERHÄNDE" the novel by Finn Ole Heinrich. He has also worked
in television, including the episode of the series "Tatort, Borowski und der gute Mensch".
His film "THE TEACHERS’ ROOM", which premiered at the Berlinale in 2023, received numerous international awards and was nominated for an Oscar for Best International Feature Film in 2024.
