“Ada Kokusu” documentary meets its audience in the land where its story began

A life story extending from Istanbul to Gökçeada

“Island Scent” focuses on the story of Şule and Aziz Bengi, who left behind the crowded and fast-paced life of Istanbul to build a new life in Gökçeada. At the heart of the documentary is the human search for a renewed connection with nature and a return to the essence of life.

Shaped under the shade of olive trees, amid the scent of wild thyme and the island breeze, this story conveys the meaning of simplifying one’s life, producing, and living in harmony with nature. Rather than presenting Gökçeada merely as a setting, the documentary treats the island’s distinctive atmosphere as an integral part of its narrative, drawing attention to how the relationship people establish with the places they inhabit can transform their way of life.

Having reached audiences in different parts of the world through international film festivals, “Island Scent” returned to its point of origin with its special screening in Gökçeada. The evening brought the protagonists of the documentary together with the island community, creating an opportunity for the story portrayed on screen to reconnect with real life.

“Ada Kokusu” brings art and sustainability together in Gökçeada

The gala programme at the Gökçeada Amphitheatre began with speeches by Prof. Dr. Serdar Egeli, Vice Rector of Istanbul Gelişim University, and Bülent Ecevit Atalay, Mayor of Gökçeada.

Following the opening speeches, the documentary screening brought Şule and Aziz Bengi’s journey from Istanbul to Gökçeada to the audience. Focusing on the natural rhythm of island life, its culture of production, and the relationship between people and nature, the documentary addresses sustainability through a story rooted in everyday life.

Following the screening, a director’s talk was held with the participation of the documentary’s director, Lecturer Ahmet Bikiç of the IGU Faculty of Fine Arts. The discussion addressed the documentary’s production process, the filming experience in Gökçeada, and its journey through international film festivals.

A sustainable life under the shade of olive rrees

Another part of the evening featured a discussion on sustainability with the documentary’s protagonists, Şule and Aziz Bengi. Their journey from Istanbul to Gökçeada provided the basis for a conversation on living in harmony with nature, the culture of production, and the meaning of sustainability in everyday life.

The life experiences of Şule and Aziz Bengi demonstrate that sustainability is not merely an environmental concept, but rather a holistic approach to life that extends from consumption habits and modes of production to one’s relationship with the surrounding environment and everyday choices.

The documentary’s central themes of simplification and reconnecting with nature were discussed in relation to Gökçeada’s distinctive way of life, while the experiences offered by island living were shared with the audience.
Plaques presented to the protagonists and contributors to the documentary

The gala programme continued with a plaque presentation ceremony honouring those who contributed to the production of the documentary and the organisation of the special screening in Gökçeada. Plaques were presented to Prof. Dr. Serdar Egeli, Vice Rector of Istanbul Gelişim University; Bülent Ecevit Atalay, Mayor of Gökçeada; and the documentary’s protagonists, Şule and Aziz Bengi.

Bringing together the power of art to make human stories visible with the theme of sustainability, “Island Scent” shared its story with the people of the land where it was born following its journey through international film festivals.

Produced with the support of Istanbul Gelişim University, the documentary brings Gökçeada’s natural and cultural heritage to audiences through cinema while exploring the possibility of living in harmony with nature through the story of Şule and Aziz Bengi. The journey that began under the shade of olive trees found new life in the land where its story originated, with the special screening in Gökçeada.

IGU contributes to a sustainable future through the transformative power of art

Bringing together scientific production, artistic creativity, and a sense of social responsibility, Istanbul Gelişim University continues to carry its academic knowledge beyond the boundaries of campus, shedding light on stories at the intersection of people, nature, and life. The documentary “Island Scent” reflects IGU’s approach to sustainability not merely as an academic field of study, but as a way of life integrated with art, culture, and human stories.

Highlighting the University’s commitment to artistic production and its vision of fostering social awareness, the documentary conveys the importance of reconnecting with nature and collectively building a sustainable future through the universal language of cinema.