Ankara
HubMiddle East Through Films

Phase 1*

The region we live in, namely the Middle East, has preserved its place on our agenda with wars, destruction of cities and bombs as well as riots, resistances and struggles. The idea that “Every nation creates its own Orient” merges with the question how much the peoples of Turkey and the Middle East know each other, and to what degree this acquaintance is imaginary, fictitious or stereotypical. Moreover, it is noteworthy to underline that orientalism inevitably perceives the Middle East as a monolithic society, ignoring the vast differences between societies. We believe in the power of cinema to question such ideas, and to open the path for different peoples to get to know each other, to act in solidarity and to organise collective struggles. Therefore, based on the idea that we can take steps to overcome this artificial distance between peoples by means of cinema by highlighting what is overlooked, neglected and forgotten, we wanted to organise a Middle East Films Festival in Ankara. To this end, in the first phase of the project, we organised activities that lay the base for the festival. We expected these events to appeal to audiences who are interested in cinema, predominantly the Middle East cinema, cultural life and history, to people who struggle for peace and democracy in our country and the world, and to non-governmental organisations.