“Yüzyılımdaki Cumhuriyet” Documentary Talk Held at Uluyazı Campus

Organized in collaboration with the Cinema Society and the Department of Cinema and Television, the documentary film talk and screening of “Yüzyılımdaki Cumhuriyet” was held on Monday, May 4, at Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall on Uluyazı Campus.

Directed by Neşe Sarısoy Karatay, “Yüzyılımdaki Cumhuriyet” was prepared specifically for the 100th anniversary of the Republic. Following the screening, a talk was held with the film’s director Neşe Sarısoy Karatay and producer-director Zafer Karatay, who attended the event as a guest speaker.

During the talk, the emergence of the documentary’s idea, its production process, narrative style, and the importance of recording the testimonies of witnesses to the Republic were discussed. Karatay stated that one of the most effective ways to narrate the founding period and early years of the Republic was through images. Based on this idea, she explained that she decided to interview 100-year-old citizens who had witnessed the early years of the Republic, experienced the excitement and motivation of that period, and received education in line with the principles of the Republic.

Emphasizing that the documentary aimed not only to convey historical information but also to reveal the emotions and memories of individuals who witnessed the founding period of the Republic, Karatay described the starting point of the documentary with the following words: “I thought of our 100-year-old citizens who had seen the early years of the Republic, felt that excitement and motivation, and received education according to the principles of the Republic.”

Karatay also underlined that most of the characters featured in the documentary are no longer alive, stressing the historical and cultural significance of recording their testimonies. Karatay said, “I am glad we had the opportunity to talk to them. Rather than focusing only on information, we focused on that spirit. We tried to receive from them both in abstract and concrete terms. At the same time, we thought about what they could contribute to Ecrin. I did not want to tell the story in a didactic way; I wanted to capture that feeling and spirit.”

Stating that the documentary consists of interviews between witnesses of the Republic from different professional backgrounds, such as teachers, academics, workers, writers, artists, and pharmacists, and 18-year-old student Ecrin Abay, Karatay noted that intergenerational transmission is one of the main elements of the film. She also said that the dialogue established between a young student and individuals who witnessed the early years of the Republic added strong meaning to the documentary’s narrative structure.

After the film screening, Director Neşe Sarısoy Karatay addressed the students and emphasized that young people have an important responsibility in carrying the Republic into the future. Karatay said, “You will be the ones to take over the flag of the Republic.”

Producer and director Zafer Karatay, who attended the talk as a guest speaker, also shared his evaluations regarding the production process of the documentary. Karatay drew attention to the importance of the pre-production stage in documentary filmmaking and provided information about topic selection, communication with characters, research before filming, and the challenges encountered during the production process. He also addressed the essential stages that should be considered while preparing a documentary project.