Yellow Letters
Yellow Letters is a 2026 political drama film directed by İlker Çatak, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ayda Çatak and Enis Köstepen. It follows Derya and Aziz, a couple of Turkish theater artists who lose their jobs due to political persecution in Turkey.
The film will have its world premiere at the main competition of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Golden Bear. It will be theatrically released in Germany by Alamode Film on 5 March 2026.
Premise
The marriage of an artist couple begins to unravel after a state arbitration at their play's premiere.Cast
- Özgü Namal as Derya
- Tansu Biçer as Aziz
- Leyla Smyrna Cabas as Ezgi
- İpek Bilgin as Güngör Hanim
- Aydin Isik as Salih
- Aziz Çapkurt as Baran
- Yusuf Akgün as Fikret
- Uygar Tamer as Kadriye
- Jale Arıkan as Kübra
- Seda Türkmen as Sema
- Emre Bakar as Ismail Karacabraş
- Elit İşcan as Cemre
- Sultan Ulutaş Alopé as Rojda
- Emine Meyrem as Gülin
- İpek Seyalıoğlu as Zeynep
Production
Development
An international co-production of Germany, France, and Turkey. In 2021, the project received a €10,000 production grant by the German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund. It participated at the Berlinale Co-Production Market in February 2022. In November 2022, the project was awarded €65,000 grant from the MOIN Filmförderung. The project received €368,000 production grant from Eurimages in November 2023.Filming
Principal photography took place in Hamburg and Berlin, standing in for Ankara and Istanbul, and wrapped in July 2024. It was also shot at the Berliner Ensemble Main Auditorium, involving hundreds extras.Release
Yellow Letters will have its world premiere at the Main Competition section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026. In February 2024, Be For Films acquired the film's international sales.The film is scheduled to be released theatrically in Germany by Alamode Film on 5 March 2026.