Home / Arts and Entertainment / Istanbul's Past Haunts Developer's Future
Istanbul's Past Haunts Developer's Future
9 Oct
Summary
- A real estate developer's project is halted by an old cemetery.
- The developer uncovers buried family secrets tied to the city.
- The film world premiered at the Zurich Film Festival.
Ufuk Emiroglu's debut fiction feature, "Sevda," has secured sales representation from Symbioz Films and released its trailer. The film is set against the backdrop of Istanbul's competitive real estate market.
"Sevda" follows its protagonist, a real estate developer actively involved in Istanbul's gentrification. Her latest deal faces an unexpected halt due to an old Ottoman cemetery on the development site and an elderly caretaker's refusal to vacate.
As the project stalls, Sevda's buried family past resurfaces, intertwining her personal story with the city's historical narrative. Emiroglu, known for her documentary "My Father, the Revolution and Me," co-wrote the screenplay with actor Ercan Kesal. The drama is a Swiss-Turkish-Belgian co-production, with producers from France, Switzerland, and Belgium. Symbioz Films, a new European sales and production company, also has other titles on its slate.
The film world-premiered at the Zurich Film Festival in September.
