“SALT” documentary meets Visual Communication Design students

The documentary conveys historical memory through visual storytelling

Produced through the collaboration of the General Directorate of Copyright of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Yunus Emre Institute, and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the documentary “SALT” examines the developments experienced by the Ottoman Empire on the Sinai–Palestine Front during the First World War and the Battles of Salt in 1918 within a historical framework.

In addition to the struggle of the Ottoman troops stationed in the region, the documentary focuses on the shared historical memory between Türkiye and Jordan. In this context, the Salt Turkish Martyrs’ Cemetery is featured in the documentary’s narrative as one of the important elements of historical and cultural heritage carried from the past to the present. Through the significance of the cemetery, the importance of preserving shared historical heritage and transmitting it to future generations is emphasized.

The power of cinema to build intercultural connections was discussed

Following the documentary screening, Director Ahmet Bikiç shared his experiences with the students regarding the production process and documentary filmmaking. During the discussion, it was emphasized that documentary cinema is not merely a form of storytelling that records historical events; by making visible the relationships between people, places, and memory, it also contributes to understanding the past in its different dimensions.

Attention was drawn to the possibility of approaching historical events not only through military and political developments, but also through people’s experiences, the traces carried by places, and the shared memory of societies. In this context, various perspectives were discussed on the aspects of the “SALT” documentary that make historical and cultural connections between different geographies visible.

A hands-on experience for Visual Communication Design students

The discussion, moderated by Associate Professor Murat Doğan, also addressed different stages of documentary production. The students exchanged ideas about the production process, which extends from research and preparation to fieldwork, image production, editing, and voice-over.

The event provided students of the Department of Visual Communication Design with the opportunity to hear directly from the director about the process of a professional documentary, from the initial idea to its presentation to the audience. While evaluating the role of visual storytelling in conveying historical and cultural subjects, the students also had the opportunity to gain insight into the importance of research, narrative development, and visual language in documentary production.

Transmitting cultural heritage to future generations through visual storytelling

The social responsibility dimension of documentary cinema was also addressed during the event. The role that professionals working in visual communication and cinema can play in preserving cultural heritage, developing historical awareness, and establishing communication between different societies was discussed.

Shaped around the approach “The Memory of a Nation, the Gratitude of a Land, the Voice of Unforgettable Martyrs,” the “SALT” documentary establishes a visual narrative between the past and the present by addressing historical events through places, people, memories, and cultural connections.

The screening and discussion organized by the Department of Visual Communication Design at Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Fine Arts contributed to students’ understanding of documentary filmmaking processes and their evaluation of historical and cultural heritage from a visual communication perspective. The event also constituted an important gathering in terms of addressing the aspects of cinema that keep social memory alive and enable communication between different cultures.