08 October 2026
“Aç Açına” wins Best Short Film Award at CineFest in Albania!
“Aç Açına,” a short film produced by Asst. Prof. Eda Türkay, a faculty member of Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, received the Best Short Film Award at CineFest held in Albania. Directed and written by Ahmet Toğaç, the film added another award to its ongoing journey across national and international festivals.
The 14-minute fiction short film, produced in 2024, stands out with a story built around family relationships, childhood dreams, and the fragility of expectations. “Aç Açına” centers on adolescent Selma, whose plan to make pizza at home with her mother and younger brother for her father’s birthday and then go to an amusement park is unexpectedly disrupted.
Focusing on Selma’s interrupted birthday plan
In the film, Selma waits for the birthday plan she has prepared for her father to come true, only to learn that he will not be able to return home on time. Although her mother takes the children to an amusement park to distract them, by the time the family eventually comes together, the celebration Selma had imagined has already lost its meaning. Through this emotional rupture, the film addresses family relationships and the confrontation between childhood expectations and disappointment through a restrained narrative approach. The cinematography of “Aç Açına” was handled by Nusret Emre Bilgin, while Ami Mor was responsible for editing, Erdem Helvacıoğlu for music, and Sima Cihangir for sound. The cast includes Ece Bağcı, Ömer Gökay Şanlıer, and Nalan Kuruçim.
From the project stage to an international festival journey
The festival journey of “Aç Açına” began before the film entered production. The project received significant support during its development process by winning the Folkart Film Lab Production Award in the Film Lab section of the 22nd International İzmir Short Film Festival. It was later selected for the 6th Short Film Workshop organized within the scope of Meetings on the Bridge by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). The project was also granted short film production support by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cinema. Following the completion of production, the film had its world premiere at the 38th Cinekid Festival and was subsequently screened at various national and international festivals.
Another award added to its achievements
“Aç Açına” had previously received the Best Editing Award at the 11th International Uşak Short Film Festival, the Jury Special Award at the 8th International Education-Themed Short Film Competition, the Best Short Film Award at the Düzce Konuralp International Film Festival, and a Special Mention at the 6th SineKültür Interuniversity Short Film Festival. The film was also honored with the Best Art Direction Award at the 25th Paso Film Festival. The Best Short Film Award received at CineFest in Albania became the latest achievement in the film’s international festival journey.
“Aç Açına” also reached audiences on MUBI
In addition to its festival selections and awards, the film also met audiences on the international digital film platform MUBI. In this way, “Aç Açına” had the opportunity to reach a wider audience beyond its festival circulation.
As Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Fine Arts, we congratulate Asst. Prof. Eda Türkay, director Ahmet Toğaç, and the film crew, and wish “Aç Açına” continued success throughout its festival journey.