A Thousand-Year Memory of a Forest: "Ancient Longoz" Outdoors in Ankara!

Hello everyone, but mostly to myself; because what I'm about to write are also notes to myself...

Last evening, August 6th, we gathered at the Cult Terrace in Esat Hal, one of Ankara's beautiful and new buildings, for a very special open-air film screening. In today's rapidly changing digital age, where we are confined behind screens, seeing all the emotions you put into putting the pieces together during the film's production process communicate directly with the audience on a giant white screen, touching them, is a completely different feeling. That night, I am grateful for this gathering that allowed me to experience this feeling again, that brought me together again in the midst of life's hustle and bustle.

This event, organized by the Civil Thought CAM platform, was a wonderful example of how civil society and art can go hand in hand. Before the screening, we had the chance to meet with Ambassador Aivo Orav, Head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey, and his esteemed wife. We had a very candid conversation where we talked about our weaknesses, shortcomings, and things we haven't been able to do. The role they play in providing resources to civil society and supporting filmmakers in Türkiye is invaluable; I hope this spirit of solidarity continues for many years to come.

That evening, there were two films on screen that championed rights and contributed to change. One was "Everything's Fine," a documentary by my dear director friend Muhammet Beyazdağ. It portrayed, in an epic style and with a very insider's perspective, the arduous struggle of 12-year-old Aleyna for her right to education in a remote, almost inaccessible part of rural Türkiye. Watching this film, which has toured over 50 festivals and won 15 awards, on the big screen was powerful.

The other film was "Ancient Longoz İğneada," a documentary I directed and which entered my life about 9 years ago. This film tells the story of Longoz, meaning "flooded forest" in our language, and the struggle for survival of a massive 1000-year-old ecosystem. With its white-tailed eagles, endemic plants, and wild horses running freely in the depths of the forest, it's a video-activist documentary that actually holds hope for all of us.

"For detailed information and the film => https://www.ugurcuya.com/kadimlongoz "

However, the real protagonist of the film is the forest itself and the local people who are connected to it: the beekeepers, fishermen, foresters, market vendors, and guides. While describing the impact of the proposed nuclear power plant on their environment and lives, they draw strength from that ancient relationship they have with the forest. Sometimes people ask, "Why do you make films?" It's precisely for this reason... To be able to reconstruct our own lives along with our own stories in that place where we record a moment and a time, to be able to say to future generations, "We were here too, and we defended life, not just our own personal freedom, but to try to offer and bring freedom to the other and the different."

On this occasion, I would like to extend my endless gratitude to the heroes behind and in front of the camera; to the İğneada Environmental Platform, the Kırklareli City Council, Dayko, the people of Demirköy, Beğendik, Limanköy, Sislioba, and to my entire team who breathed life into this film. The juxtaposition of two heartfelt films that night, the unification of hope on screen, felt incredibly good to me.

Following the screening, at the reception, enjoying popcorn and lemonade—the essential elements of an open-air cinema—it was invaluable to reflect on the films with the audience and discuss together how we can contribute to change. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who filled the limited seats in the cinema for this free event, who demanded film production, and who gave a breath of fresh air to civil society.

One final note: If you keep your spirits up, believe me, you can still see wild horses running freely in that forest.

See you soon, Uğur Cuya