Beyond Borders traveled to Istanbul

Warm Reception from the Cinephile Audience of Istanbul for the Award-Winning Films of Beyond Borders

With a large turnout and a warm reception from the audience, the three-day screening of award-winning films from the 8th Beyond Borders – Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival concluded successfully. The screenings took place at the Sinematek of Istanbul (Kadikoy) from October 18 to 20, 2024.

At the opening of the event, the initiative of the Hellenic History Foundation was welcomed by the festival’s artistic director, Irini Sarioglou, the Consul General of Greece in Istanbul, Ambassador Konstantinos Koutras, and the Consul General of Australia, Mr. Tony Huber.

In her brief speech, the artistic director of Beyond Borders expressed her gratitude to the Sinematek’s team for their flawless collaboration and thanked the ambassadors for their presence.

Ambassador Koutras, in his address, highlighted the significance of the initiative for both Turkish and Greek filmmakers, stating, “This initiative aims to bridge nations and foster mutual respect and understanding through the power of art.” He also warmly thanked the organizers for the successful transfer of this artistic endeavor and expressed his wishes for its long-lasting continuation.

Topics such as the violence of war, the oppression of human rights, migration, and diversity touched the audience deeply and sparked meaningful discourse, always centered around the power of art.

The successful presence of Beyond Borders in Istanbul showcased not only the exceptional quality of its award-winning films but also its profound cultural mission to connect different peoples and cultures, as well as its capacity to build meaningful bridges through art.

The strong response from students and the general public underscores the need for such initiatives to continue for the benefit of both nations.

The 10th edition of Beyond Borders will take place from August 24 to 31, 2025, as always, at the edge of the Aegean, on the magical island of Kastellorizo.

Photos from the screenings can be found here, and photos from the three-day event are available here.

Organized by: Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME) in collaboration with the French Ecrans des Mondes.