Feature Film

Toprak

Name: Toprak
Genre: Feature Film

Directed by Sevgi Hirschhäuser

AFIN 2020 Nominee

2020
1h 46m
Turkey
Turkish
Drama
Social

First-time filmmaker

Watch trailer View My AFIN →

Stills

1 frame

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Credits

Written by

Sevgi Hirschhäuser

Produced by

Starring

Cinematography

Chris Hirschhaeuser

Synopsis

TOPRAK is the dramatic story of a simple family in rural Turkey dealing with poverty, family traditions, and religious heritage. Since the death of his parents, the teenage Burak has lived with his uncle Cemil and grandmother in a remote Turkish village. The small family unit has been trying to make a living by selling fruits. While the religious Cemil is satisfied to live his life in poverty, Burak struggles to leave for the city and attend university. When grandmother falls sick, both Burak and Cemil have to make tough decisions that will change their lives forever.

Director's Statement

Sevgi Hirschhäuser, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN.

Toprak is a movie about the clash of traditions and the problems between the generations. The elder wants to keep the heritage and the status quo, the younger want to leave and do something new. It was a great experience filming my first feature in the hometown of my mother's family with the help and support of the community there. We shoot in 17 days with a very small team and a tight budget.

Sevgi Hirschhäuser Director

What makes this one special

4 awards at other festivals18th Ischia Film Festival · 10th Oceanside International Film Festival · 14th Buffalo International Film Festival and 1 more
Programmed at 12 other festivalsAcross 5 countries
One of just 3 films from Turkey across eight seasons
A first-time filmmaker

Also selected at

4 awards, 8 official selections across 12 other festivals

Winner18th Ischia Film FestivalBest Cinematography Award · Ischia, Italy · 2020
Winner10th Oceanside International Film FestivalBest Feature Film, Best Actor · California, United States
Winner14th Buffalo International Film FestivalBest Narrative Feature -Gold Bison Award · NY, United States
Winner29th Woods Hole Film FestivalBest Feature , Best Actor , Best Emerging Director , Best Cinematography · Woods Hole, United States
Selection15th Annual Central Florida Film Festival
Selection17th Vail Film Festival 2020Colorado, United States
Selection18th Oakland International Film Festival
Selection20th Kansas International Film Festival, Kansas CityUnited States
Selection29th Arizona International Film Festival 2020United States
Selection39th OULU INT'L CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH FILM FESTIVALFinland
Selection44th SAO PAULO INT'L FILM FESTIVAL 2020 Mostra Internacional de Cinema, Brazil
Selection54th Internationale Hofer Filmtage 2020Germany

Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.

Director's Biography

Sevgi Hirschhäuser, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN. Sevgi Hirschhäuser Director

Sevgi Hirschhäuser is a Turkish director, writer and editor based in Munich, Germany. She is experienced to film making by working long turn in film sets, different departments. She started to work as an editor, then started to write stories. Finally, she filmed her first feature film "TOPRAK" (drama - 105 mins.) in Antalya, Turkey. She works in pre & post film production and is developing currently several short & feature film scripts for next projects.