Akbank Short Film Festival was initiated in 2004 with the aim of introducing and promoting the short film discipline, encouraging short film production, supporting new filmmakers contributing the national cinema, and ensuring that short films, followed by a wide audience, reach viewers under proper conditions. Presenting short film productions from all over Turkey and all over the world within the scope of festival culture and providing a discussion suitable platform, the festival has been maintaining its tradition more than twenty years.
The festival, held at Akbank Sanat and offering its progeam free of charge, consists of "Festival Shorts," "World Shorts," "From Short to Feature," "Experiences," "Documentary Film," "Perspective," "Special Screening" and "Forum" Sections. Films from leading film festivals around the world, such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice, meet with the audience in the festival program.
Aiming to increase its target audience with its updated content each year, the festival includes two main competition sections as national and international. Additionally, the "Young Talents Competition," launched in 2018 to encourage the interest and production of short films by young people aged 20 and under, once again invites young cinema creators this year. Experienced professionals from various areas of the cinema industry come together with cinema lovers through workshops, talks, and masterclasses during the festival.
"Akbank Short Film Forum" section first introduced in 2017, includes a screenplay competition in order to support short films beginning from the scriptwriting stage and to enhance short film production opportunities.
Through its contentful and inclusive program, Akbank Short Film Festival continues its tradition where cinema enthusiasts will enjoy watching and attending by providing discussion platforms. After hosting cinema lovers at Akbank Sanat and on the online platform, the festival meets with young people at universities all over Turkey with Akbank Short Film Festival in Universities project.