The 3rd Foça International Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Film Days program was organized around the central theme “Leading Ladies: The Legacy of Puduhepa.” The theme was inspired by three of the leading ladies in Anatolian history: Puduhepa, the Hittite queen who signed the 13th-century B.C. Kadesh Agreement between the Hittite’s and the Egyptians, which was the world’s first peace treaty; Kybele, the Anatolian mother goddess, whose shrines were an early feature of Foça’s cultural landscape; and Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, to whom Phokaia’s largest temple was dedicated. In making their selections, the organizers aimed to focus on women’s experiences and to highlight the unique contributions made by pioneering women in all cultural spheres, including documentary film.
- 7 Cybeles -
Turkey (2020) Directed by Orhan Tekeoğlu 58'
The story of seven women, one from each of the seven regions in Turkey, and how their lives were transformed thanks to a whole lot of determination – and a little microcredit.
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- Playing With Fire -
Greece (2014) Directed by Anneta Papathanassiou
The story of the brave Afghan women whose passion for theatre persists in the face of harsh criticism, societal disapproval, and death threats against them and their families.
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- Assyrian Correspondence -
France (2020) Directed by Vanessa Tubiana-Brun 47'
The story of Tarām-Kūbi, whose letters provide us with a glimpse into the life of women in the Near East and their important role in the regional economy around 4,000 years ago.
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- A Legend of the Taurus Mountains -
Turkey (2003) Directed by Aylin Eren 45'
The story of King Asativatas’s fortress at Karatepe-Aslantaş, whose discovery in 1946 helped unlock the secret of the long undecipherable hieroglyphics of the Hittites.
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- Doroteah -
Israel (2020) Directed by Eitan Wetzler İbraica 91'
The story of the groundbreaking all-girl Israeli modern dance troupe, Tnautron, told through archival footage and the reminiscences of choreographer Dorit Shimron and her dancers.
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- Lady -
Turkey (2020) Directed by Yunus Arı
The story of the role of women in the family becomes a subject of speculation in this spare two-minute film shot in Turkey under lockdown during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
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- The Harvest -
Dominician Republic (2015) Directed by Wendy P. Espinal
The story of Milena, an enterprising woman living in the Dominican Republic’s Pico Duarte National Park, as told by her young daughter Iris, who is about to leave home to study.
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- A Woman's Touch -
Turkey (2020) Directed by Enes Yurtsever and Turgut Cığızoğlu
The story of Nurgül, a spirited young woman who defies ingrained prejudices by reopening a derelict flour mill in Develi, Kayseri, eventually earning the respect of the villagers.
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- Lost Songs -
India (2020) Directed by Om Singh
The story of an elderly couple in Delhi, shot under lockdown during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, has a subtext that highlights the quiet role of women in cultural transmission.
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- Sand Path -
Spain (2018) Directed by Aida Ballmann
The story of the director’s search for family history and cultural understanding is at the center of this road movie, which takes us through the towns and villages of Senegal.
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- Las Marthas -
USA (2014) Directed by Cristina Ibarra
The story of the Mexicans of Texas is the real subject of this film, which follows Laurita and Rosario as they prepare for the Society of Martha Washington’s annual costume ball.
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- The Mosuo Sisters -
USA/China (2012) Directed by Marlo Poras
The story of Juma and Latso, two sisters from the Mosuo tribe, an ethnic minority from Yunnan, China that represents one of the last matriarchal societies in the world.
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- Puduhepa: An Anatolian Superhero -
Turkey (2020) Directed by Barış Özcan
The story of the Anatolian “superhero” Puduhepa, the Hittite Queen whose signature is found on the 13th-century B.C. Kadesh Agreement, the world’s first recorded peace treaty.
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- Tree of Life –
Turkey (2019) Directed by Filiz Temiz Gecikmiş
The story of our relationship with death is at the center of this road movie, which takes us on a tour of the cultural heritage of the historic city Mardin in southeastern Turkey.
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Thursday
22 October 2020- 20.00
Foça Film Days On-Line Opening Short Films: Puduhepa Lady Lost Songs Photography: "Foça through the Lens of Foça Women" Special Musical Guests: Agora Minor
Friday
23 October 2020- 19:00-21:15
A Woman's Touch Playing with Fire Q+A with directors Enes Yurtsever and Anneta Papathanasiou
- 21:30-23:15
Doroteah Q+A with director Eitan Wetzler
Saturday
24 October 2020- 18:30-19:30
A Legend of the Taurus Mountains Q+A with director Aylin Eren
20:00-21:30The Harvest 7 Cybeles Q+A with director Orhan Tekeoğlu
22:00-23:00Las Marthas
Sunday
25 October 2020- 17:00-18:00
Assyrian Correspondence (Turkish) Q+A with director Vanessa Tubiana Brun and archaeologist Cecile Michelle
18:00-19:00Assyrian Correspondence (English) Q+A with director Vanessa Tubiana Brun and archaeologist Cecile Michelle
19:30-21:00Tree of Life Sand Path Q+A with directors Filiz Temiz Gecikmiş and Aida Ballmann
21:30-23:15The Mosuo Sisters Q+A with director Marlo Poras
