celebrating 30 years

Welcome to the 30th Boston Turkish Festival:"Colors of Anatolia"

October 29 - December 15, 2025

Boston Turkish Festival, which was founded in 1996, is a unique festival which lasts more than a month and it is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. The festival theme since 2006, “Colors of Anatolia”, reflects the cultural diversity and richness, ranging from fine arts, dance, music, film to culinary arts. We are proud to present to you another high caliber festival once again this year.

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FLAG RAISING

A Tradition Since 2000

festival opening

Celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and opening of the 30th Boston Turkish Arts and Culture Festival

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025


BOSTON TURKISH FESTIVAL'S 20th ANNUAL DOCUMENTARY AND SHORT FILM COMPETITION

OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 16, 2025

Celebrating 20 Years!

Boston Turkish Festival 20th Documentary and Short Film Competition

Boston Turkish Arts and Culture Festival’s 20th Annual Documentary & Short Film Competition, co-presented with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Film Program has become a North American tradition attracting international acclaim.

hemme'nin oldugu gunlerden biriThe competition kicks off with “One of Those Days When Hemme Dies” directed by Murat Fıratoğlu, official selection of Türkiye for the 98th Academy Awards Best International Feature Film category. The film made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti section.

Bir Cumhuriyet Sarkisi"The Chords of Change," directed by Yağız Alp Akaydın, chronicles the cultural and artistic revolution of 1930s Türkiye and the remarkable creation of "Özsoy," the first Turkish opera. This monumental and deeply emotional task was completed in just 27 days, with composer Ahmet Adnan Saygun not only composing the opera but also staging it with a dedicated team of musicians and artists. Saygun would later become one of the most significant and internationally recognized Turkish composers of classical music.

This year’s competition starts on October 30th and continues on November 1st with screenings at the MFA. Screenings of the competition finalists will take place on November 7-9 at the Goethe-Institut Boston and on November 14 & 16 at Boston University.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPETITION FINALISTS & SCREENING SCHEDULE


ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHEN HEMME DIES
Hemme’nin Öldüğü Günlerden Biri

Written and Directed by Murat Fıratoğlu
83 min. / 2024 / with English subtitles
Cast: Murat Fıratoğlu, Sefer Fıratoğlu , Salih Taşçı , Güneş Sayın , Ali Barkın Birkan

hemme'nin oldugu gunlerden biri | one of those days when hemme dies

Türkiye’s Entry for the 98th Academy Awards

Orizzonti Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2025 | 7:30 p.m.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Alfond Auditorium

Co-presented with the Museum of Fine Arts Boston Film Program

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Concert

THE YAĞMUR SOYDEMİR QUARTET

Yağmur Soydemir, flute
Utar Artun, piano
Youngchae Jeong, bass
Mark Walker, drums

the yagmur soydemir quartet

The Yağmur Soydemir Quartet, led by the award-winning flutist, composer, and arranger Yağmur Soydemir, and featuring pianist Utar Artun, bassist Youngchae Jeong, and Grammy/Latin Grammy Award–winning drummer Mark Walker, bring their dynamic jazz performance to the Festival.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025 | 8:00 p.m.

Goethe-Institut Boston
170 Beacon Street

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THE CHORDS OF CHANGE
Bir Cumhuriyet Şarkısı

Directed by Yağız Alp Akaydın
128 min. / 2024 / with English subtitles
Cast: Salih Bademci, Ertan Saban, Okan Yalabık, Ahmet Rıfat Sungar, Melis Sezen, Birce Akalay, Mehmet Özgür, Bensu Soral, Emre Karayel

bir cumhuriyet sarkisi

The story of remarkable creation of "Özsoy," the first Turkish opera; a monumental task completed in just 27 days by composer Ahmed Adnan Saygun and a dedicated team of musicians and artists. Saygun (1907-1991) is widely regarded as one of the most significant Turkish composers of classical music, particularly known for his incorporation of Turkish folk music into his compositions. His work has been deeply appreciated by world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who has performed and recorded several of Saygun's pieces.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Remis Auditorium

Co-presented with the Museum of Fine Arts Boston Film Program

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TIME AFTER TIME

Exhibit: Regenerations

Painting, Photography & Some Poetry

CAROL O'NEILL - ADNAN ONART

time after time

The exhibit "Time after Time" explores a powerful dynamic that unfolds along two vectors: Life and the Work of Art. Featuring the paintings of Carol O'Neill and the photographs of Adnan Onart, with poetry interspersed to form visual regenerations, the show examines renewal through memory.

EXHIBIT ON VIEW: November 1 – December 15, 2025

CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTISTS: Online & In Person | Nov. 8 | 2:00 p.m.
RECEPTION: Nov. 8 | 3:00 p.m. | Registration required. Limited capacity.

The Cambridge Homes
360 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, MA

READ MORE & REGISTER

Culinary Event

FLAVORS OF ANATOLIA

with Chef Ana Sortun
Executive Chef/Owner, Oleana; Co-owner Sofra Bakery & Café and Sarma

Celebrating 20 Years!

flavors of anatolia

Experience an evening of exquisite Turkish cuisine accompanied by the distinctive wines of Kavaklidere Winery of Türkiye.

James Beard award-winning chef, Ana Sortun, owner of Oleana restaurant and co-owner of Sofra Bakery & Café and Sarma restaurant, will share flavorful and enticing Turkish dishes that provide a culinary backdrop to the region. Joining Chef Sortun, Pastry Chef of Oleana, Nik Mastalerz, will be providing the dessert for the evening. Nik was recently named to the 2024 Rising Star Chefs.

One of BTF's signature events, Flavors of Anatolia is celebrating its 20th year, which had its inaugural event with chef Ana Sortun in 2006.

Co-presented with Boston University Food & Wine Program

Special thanks to Kavaklıdere Winery

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025 | 6:00 pm

Boston University
Food & Wine Program

BY ADVANCE REGISTRATION ONLY. LIMITED CAPACITY.

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Lecture

NEOLITHIC SECRETS CARVED IN STONE
Göbekli Tepe, Karahantepe, and the Stone Mounds

by ŞERİF YENEN
Acclaimed tour guide, writer, speaker, and filmmaker

gobeklitepe

Welcome to a journey back nearly 12,000 years, to a time when humanity first began leaving lasting imprints on stone. Sites like Göbekli Tepe and Karahantepe do more than expand our knowledge of prehistory—they challenge everything we thought we knew about the origins of civilization. These monumental enclosures, carved and arranged by hunter-gatherers long before the dawn of agriculture, reveal a sophistication in art, ritual, and social organization far beyond earlier assumptions.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.

Goethe-Institut Boston
170 Beacon Street

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Museum Gallery Tour

ART AND ARTIFACTS OF ANATOLIA
at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

with HÜLYA KARA
MFA Gallery Tour Guide, Educator, and Artist

art and artifacts of anatolia

Step into the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and discover the deep connections between your cultural heritage and world history. Did you know that the oldest artifact in the MFA comes from Syria and the second oldest is from Türkiye? On this 60-minute interactive tour, we will trace Anatolia’s role at the crossroads of civilizations through remarkable works of art and artifacts with Hülya Kara, an experienced educator, artist, and accomplished Gallery Tour Guide at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025 | 6:00 pm

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue

BY ADVANCE REGISTRATION ONLY. LIMITED CAPACITY.

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COLORS OF ANATOLIA
DANCE WORKSHOP

by AHMET LÜLECİ
Internationally acclaimed choreographer, performer, and dance teacher

Celebrating 15 Years!

dance workshop

Come and join us as we celebrate rich and diverse heritage of Anatolian folk dances through this workshop. Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn new dances from internationally acclaimed choreographer Ahmet Lüleci.

The Colors of Anatolia Dance Workshop with Ahmet Lüleci, one of BTF's signature events, is celebrating its 15th year since its debut with Ahmet Lüleci in 2011.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.

GSU Alley, Boston University
775 Commonwealth Avenue Boston

Co-presented with the Boston University Turkish Student Association

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Concert

BERKLEE TURKISH ENSEMBLE

led by Utar Artun & Yağmur Soydemir

berklee turkish ensemble

Join us for the debut concert of recently founded Berklee Turkish Ensemble led by distinguished musicians Utar Artun and Yağmur Soydemir, presenting a vibrant journey through the rich and diverse sounds of Turkish traditional and fusion music. Celebrating the legacies of Türkiye’s most renowned composers alongside original works by Berklee’s own Turkish faculty and students, the ensemble offers an unforgettable live experience.

Ensemble Members: Arda Alper, voice; Ada Canata, harp & voice; Lucie Cholley, voice; Estefano Gutierrez, oud & fretless bass; Zeynep Kara, piano; Maya Nil Kaya, oboe; Rakel Saranga, voice; Kerem Seçkin, drums; Sinan Tökmeci, e.bass & e. guitar; Zeynep Yiğitoğlu, viola, Elif Yılmam Tuzcu, voice

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2025 | 7:30 pm

Goethe-Institut Boston
170 Beacon Street

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Turkish American Cultural Society of New England

 

 

turkish airlines

Service Mark Advisory: Boston Turkish FestivalSM , Turkish FestivalSM ,
and Turkish American FestivalSM are registered service marks of the
Boston Turkish Festival.




Bir Cumhuriyet Sarkisi