Sections

This year the festival will screen around 70 films in ten thematic sections

!f Inspired

!f Istanbul celebrates the second year of the !f Inspired International Film Competition, designed to award new directions in cinema. Open to emerging directors from around the world, !f Inspired aims to highlight films which show technical innovation, bold narrative and courageous storytelling. The competition program will be judged by a jury of prominent members of the international and Turkish film industry, who will select the year’s “Most Inspired Director”.

Hit Films

The latest titles from accalaimed independent directors, as well as award-winning recent festival favorites from Toronto, Sundance and more.

Northern Lights

Northern Lights captures the best in recent Scandinavian cinema: fresh, crisp and twisted in a stunning way.

CounterSounds

CounterSounds brings together films related to music that has inspired new subcultures, political movements and life styles around the world.

Fantastic Films

Japanese manga, cutting edge CGI, off-the-hook story-telling and of course classical animation. A range of films from around the world that boldly venture where you want to go.

The World in 1 Take

‘To see the world in one take’ alludes both to a spiritual epiphany, and a form of political rebellion. In this section, !f brings together penetrating films which seek out our fundamental oneness – politically, poetically and holistically.

New Wave America

This section celebrates an exciting new wave of American independent filmmaking, The filmmakers in this section share in common a can-do attitude to making movies - maxing out credit cards, casting their parents and acting in each other's productions- that showcases their many talents and sincerity to tremendous effect.

Do-it-Yourself

‘You do the work for the doing.’ - David Lynch

Rainbow Films

An !f staple, featuring award-winning gay and lesbian films and celebrating alternative ways of living around the world.

!F Cult Special

!f launches a brand-new annual tradition: !f Cult. Each year, this section will screen one cult classic, hand-picked from the archives of film history by Altyazı magazine for its timely relevance to the world today. In its first year, we’re also delighted to include a masterpiece by one of the world’s most renowned cult film directors.

Insomnia

Rollicking films guaranteed to make you squirm, squeal and jump out of your seat. Tomorrow’s cult classics, today...

!f Shorts

Exciting and award winning shorts from around the world proclaim once again that short is fresh.

Nerdverk