Turkey's Oscar dream comes to an end

Zeki Demirkubuz’s film Hayat, which was released on December 15, 2023, did not make the Oscar shortlist announced today.

The film, which Turkey submitted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards, was not included in the shortlist for this category.

THE FILMS SELECTED FOR THE SHORTLIST IN THE SAME CATEGORY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Brazil, ‘I’m Still Here’

Canada, ‘Universal Language’

Czech Republic, ‘Waves’

Denmark, ‘The Girl with the Needle’

France, ‘Emilia Pérez’

Germany, ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’

Iceland, ‘Touch’

Ireland, ‘Kneecap’

Italy, ‘Vermiglio’

Lithuania, ‘Flow’

Norway, ‘Armand’

Palestine, ‘From Ground Zero’

Senegal, ‘Dahomey’

Thailand, ‘How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies’

United Kingdom, ‘Santosh’

The Academy Awards will be presented on March 3, 2025.

ABOUT THE FILM HAYAT

Hicran, forced by her father to get engaged, runs away from home. Rıza, who initially thinks that Hicran did not want him anyway, begins to find the situation increasingly difficult to accept and decides to confront her. He travels to Istanbul in pursuit of his fiancée, whom he has only seen once, and begins a long and arduous search.

The film's cast includes Miray Daner, Burak Dakak, Cem Davran, Umut Kurt, Melis Birkan, Osman Alkaş, Ozan Dağara, Doğu Demirkol, Kayhan Açıkgöz, Muttalip Müjdeci, Seyit Nizam Yılmaz, Berfun Başel, Hande Özen, Özlem Türkad, and Caner Cindoruk.