From Record to Screen: Women on Record Closing Event
The first edition of Kadınlar Kayıtta (Women on Record), a transnational mentorship program for women documentary filmmakers, will close with an event on Friday, October 9. The program was designed and co-run by Anadolu Kültür and the Scottish Documentary Institute, with support from the British Council and Goethe-Institut Istanbul.
The event will begin with a screening of the teasers the participants made for their films during the program. It will continue with three short documentaries by guest director Rand Beiruty, followed by a conversation with her moderated by documentary director and editor Somnur Vardar.
Friday, October 9, 2026 / 19:00–21:00
Address: Depo / Tütün Deposu
Hacımimi Mah. Koltukçular Çıkmazı Sok. No:1
34425 Beyoğlu / Istanbul
RAND BEIRUTY
Rand Beiruty is a writer, director, creative producer and the co-founder of Shaghab Films. She holds a practice-based Ph.D. from Film University Babelsberg and is an alumna of Berlinale Talents, Rotterdam Lab, Tribeca Film Institute and Villa Aurora, among others. Her debut feature Tell Them About Us premiered at CPH:DOX and won the 2025 German Documentary Film Award for an emerging filmmaker. Her animated short Shadows premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and went on to screen at 100+ festivals, winning over 25 awards, and was shortlisted for the 2026 César Awards. She’s a member of the European Film Academy.
SOMNUR VARDAR
After studying English Literature at Istanbul’s Bogazici University, her passion for films, and interest in writing led Somnur Vardar to the graduate Media Studies programme of New York’s New School for Social Research. Her documentary making career began at Turkey’s first news channel where wrote, produced, edited and directed projects on a wide range of issues, and left with lifelong friends and film partners. She lives and works in Istanbul as director and editor.
FILMS
HALFWAY
2017, 5’, with English and Turkish subtitle
Pictures and social media messages are interwoven together with animated segments to highlight Abu Haidar family’s state of being stuck, halfway.
NUDAR
2018, 21’, with English and Turkish subtitle
A Syrian doctor living in Germany befriends the filmmaker and turns the camera around.
SHADOWS
2024, 12’, with English and Turkish subtitle
At an over crowded airport, Ahlam, a 14-year old runaway mother, fights the lurking shadows that attempt to steal the only dream that will set her free.
Kadınlar Kayıtta (Women on Record) is supported by the British Council's Connections Through Culture grant programme. #ConnectionsThroughCulture
The event will begin with a screening of the teasers the participants made for their films during the program. It will continue with three short documentaries by guest director Rand Beiruty, followed by a conversation with her moderated by documentary director and editor Somnur Vardar.
Friday, October 9, 2026 / 19:00–21:00
Address: Depo / Tütün Deposu
Hacımimi Mah. Koltukçular Çıkmazı Sok. No:1
34425 Beyoğlu / Istanbul
RAND BEIRUTY
Rand Beiruty is a writer, director, creative producer and the co-founder of Shaghab Films. She holds a practice-based Ph.D. from Film University Babelsberg and is an alumna of Berlinale Talents, Rotterdam Lab, Tribeca Film Institute and Villa Aurora, among others. Her debut feature Tell Them About Us premiered at CPH:DOX and won the 2025 German Documentary Film Award for an emerging filmmaker. Her animated short Shadows premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and went on to screen at 100+ festivals, winning over 25 awards, and was shortlisted for the 2026 César Awards. She’s a member of the European Film Academy.
SOMNUR VARDAR
After studying English Literature at Istanbul’s Bogazici University, her passion for films, and interest in writing led Somnur Vardar to the graduate Media Studies programme of New York’s New School for Social Research. Her documentary making career began at Turkey’s first news channel where wrote, produced, edited and directed projects on a wide range of issues, and left with lifelong friends and film partners. She lives and works in Istanbul as director and editor.
FILMS
HALFWAY
2017, 5’, with English and Turkish subtitle
Pictures and social media messages are interwoven together with animated segments to highlight Abu Haidar family’s state of being stuck, halfway.
NUDAR
2018, 21’, with English and Turkish subtitle
A Syrian doctor living in Germany befriends the filmmaker and turns the camera around.
SHADOWS
2024, 12’, with English and Turkish subtitle
At an over crowded airport, Ahlam, a 14-year old runaway mother, fights the lurking shadows that attempt to steal the only dream that will set her free.
Kadınlar Kayıtta (Women on Record) is supported by the British Council's Connections Through Culture grant programme. #ConnectionsThroughCulture