Organized by the Association of Women Directors, the 8th International Women Directors Festival is preparing to meet cinema lovers in Izmir from May 5-10, 2025, with new dates. Under the slogan “Not As It Seems,” the festival will showcase films addressing universal topics such as the global climate crisis, human rights, and violence against women.

“Record Participation with 475 Submissions from 67 Countries; Finalists to Be Announced on February 15”

The 8th International Women Directors Festival has received the highest number of submissions to date, with a total of 475 entries from 67 countries. The selected finalists and screening selection will be announced on February 15, 2025. The “Creating Characters from Izmir Project Development Workshops” held as part of the festival aim to highlight Izmir’s potential in film production and its rich cultural heritage. Applications for these workshops will open on February 20.

“Films Will Compete for the Golden Reel!”

The 8th International Women Directors Festival will host 8 competition sections, including national and international categories for feature films, documentaries, short films, experimental films, and animations. Nearly 70 films will compete for the Golden Reel. In addition, films by award-winning female directors and works that bring innovative perspectives to cinema will also be featured in the festival selection. Furthermore, the Biket İlhan Best Director Award and the Siyad Best Film Award, along with the Izmir Art Support Awards, will also be presented in the national feature film category.

With the vision of supporting women filmmakers, raising awareness on gender equality, and turning Izmir into a cinema hub, the International Women Directors Festival continues to grow every year with its expanding participant base and rich program. This year, the festival will once again host many world premieres.