(Official Selection, Germany)
Osman Kavala, a leading figure in Turkey’s civil society, has been in custody in the largest high-security prison in Europe in Silivri since November 1, 2017. Prosecutors accused Kavala of organizing the “Gezi protests” in Istanbul. A verdict was only delivered on the 18 February 2020, when he was acquitted. But on the same day, the chief prosecutor of Istanbul demanded the continued detention in which he was accused of an involvement in the attempted coup d’état in 2016. If convicted, Osman Kavala faces life imprisonment without parole.
“Dear Osman” draws on private letters sent to Silivri Prison by friends and family of Osman Kavala. By separating voice and image the film intends to create an echo chamber that allows audiences to listen more carefully to the letters, while at the same time place the words in context to a civil society. The dynamic between the motion of the camera, the empty flat, paired with the voices reading out the letters aims to highlight the absurd nature of Kavalas imprisonment, while at the same time draw attention to other relatives of political prisoners, who are desperately waiting for their loved ones to come home.
Director Adrian Figueroa Producer Çiğdem Mater Director of Photography Ersin Gök Art Director Ceyda Yüceer Narrator Nihal Koldaş, Mustafa Avkıran, Murat Utku, Çiğdem Mater Editor Philipp Figueroa Visual Effects Claud Jehu Music & Sound Design Miguel Toro
migueltoromusic 
Leave a Reply