Exclusive Trailer for Ilker Catak's 'Yellow Letters' Debuts Ahead of World Premiere at Berlinale
A gripping trailer has emerged for Turkish director Ilker Catak's latest drama, "Yellow Letters", which is set to make its world premiere in competition at the prestigious Berlinale film festival. The movie marks a return to the festival for Catak, whose Oscar-nominated 2022 film "The Teachers' Lounge" also premiered here.
"Yellow Letters" tells the story of an artist couple, Derya and Aziz, who find themselves at the mercy of the authoritarian Turkish state after losing their jobs and livelihoods overnight. As they grapple with the trade-off between their ideals and the necessities of life, their marriage is put to the test. The film explores how political systems shape the most intimate decisions of everyday life, highlighting the silent mechanisms of exclusion and the emotional toll of waiting, fear, and uncertainty.
The movie boasts an all-star cast, including Turkish actors Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer, as well as key collaborators from Catak's previous film "The Teachers' Lounge", including cinematographer Judith Kaufmann, editor Gesa Jäger, production designer Zazie Knepper, and composer Marvin Miller.
International sales are handled by Brussels-based sales company Be For Films, while German distribution is handled by A La Mode, which will release the film theatrically in Germany on March 5. "Yellow Letters" is a timely and thought-provoking drama that sheds light on the experiences of artists who have lost their livelihoods due to state arbitrariness.
Director Catak has spoken out about the importance of telling these stories, stating that he wants to give voice to those who have been silenced by the Turkish government. "There are a number of artists who are no longer allowed to be in Turkey and I want to give these people a chance and cast our film with actors who are now or soon living in exile," he said.
With its powerful message and stellar cast, "Yellow Letters" is set to resonate with audiences at the Berlinale. The film's world premiere is just around the corner, and excitement is building among festival-goers.
A gripping trailer has emerged for Turkish director Ilker Catak's latest drama, "Yellow Letters", which is set to make its world premiere in competition at the prestigious Berlinale film festival. The movie marks a return to the festival for Catak, whose Oscar-nominated 2022 film "The Teachers' Lounge" also premiered here.
"Yellow Letters" tells the story of an artist couple, Derya and Aziz, who find themselves at the mercy of the authoritarian Turkish state after losing their jobs and livelihoods overnight. As they grapple with the trade-off between their ideals and the necessities of life, their marriage is put to the test. The film explores how political systems shape the most intimate decisions of everyday life, highlighting the silent mechanisms of exclusion and the emotional toll of waiting, fear, and uncertainty.
The movie boasts an all-star cast, including Turkish actors Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer, as well as key collaborators from Catak's previous film "The Teachers' Lounge", including cinematographer Judith Kaufmann, editor Gesa Jäger, production designer Zazie Knepper, and composer Marvin Miller.
International sales are handled by Brussels-based sales company Be For Films, while German distribution is handled by A La Mode, which will release the film theatrically in Germany on March 5. "Yellow Letters" is a timely and thought-provoking drama that sheds light on the experiences of artists who have lost their livelihoods due to state arbitrariness.
Director Catak has spoken out about the importance of telling these stories, stating that he wants to give voice to those who have been silenced by the Turkish government. "There are a number of artists who are no longer allowed to be in Turkey and I want to give these people a chance and cast our film with actors who are now or soon living in exile," he said.
With its powerful message and stellar cast, "Yellow Letters" is set to resonate with audiences at the Berlinale. The film's world premiere is just around the corner, and excitement is building among festival-goers.
ilker catak is a genius like what he does with his storytelling, always keeps me on the edge of my seat 
cant wait to see the rest of the movie, this cast sounds amazing btw 
tansu bicer is in it? i need to know more about that character 
also, marvin miller's score is gonna be fire 
can't believe its premiering at berlinale again after "the teachers' lounge" 
and ozgü namal & tansu biçer are going to bring so much depth to their roles 
can't wait to see the full movie at berlinale 
. But at the same time, I'm also really curious to see how this movie tackles the emotional toll of living with uncertainty and fear 
also i love dat its based on real ppl who are exiled cuz of political reasons - we need more films that talk about this kinda stuff 
and gotta say its really striking how it highlights the struggles of artists in a repressive state system... feels like a message that's so relevant to our own world right now 
. also love how director Catak is using his platform to amplify voices that might otherwise be silenced 
, thats some powerful storytelling if you ask me 
. The cast looks incredible, especially Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer, and I love how Judith Kaufmann, Gesa Jäger, Zazie Knepper, and Marvin Miller are all back on board for another project together - it's like they're a well-oiled machine 
. The trailer does give off this sense of tension and unease, which is perfect for a drama about an artist couple facing the harsh realities of life under authoritarian rule 
i mean, who hasn't seen that plot before? but hey, Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer are in it, so maybe they'll make the whole 'silenced artists' thing somewhat interesting 
guess we'll just have to wait and see if it's more than just another film about turkish politics 
and from what i've seen from the trailer "yellow letters" looks so powerful & emotional 
. I'm hyped for the world premiere at Berlinale, can't imagine how emotional it'll be watching this movie on the big screen 
. But on the other hand, how realistic is it going to be? Are we just gonna gloss over the harsh realities of life in Turkey right now? I'm a bit skeptical about the film's ability to tackle these issues without getting watered down 
. Still, I'll keep an open mind and watch the trailer...
Oh man, I'm SO hyped for this one! Ilker Catak's new film "Yellow Letters" looks so intense and thought-provoking 
The cast is incredible too - I love seeing Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer shine on screen 
i also love that it's got an all-star cast and its coming out at berlinale which is always super prestigious 
️ #JusticeForArtists #Berlinale2025 #CinemaWithAPurpose
#ArtisticFreedomMatters #CinemaWithConscience