Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival 2026: Call for Student Film Competition

The 63rd edition of the Antalya International Golden Orange Film Festival, known as Turkey's oldest and most prestigious cinematic event, will be held this year with a focus on supporting the new generation of filmmakers. According to official announcements released on July 14, 2026, the 'Student Film Competition' section has been added to the festival's structure for the third consecutive year to serve as a bridge between the academic world and the professional film industry [1].

Third Student Competition in the Heart of Antalya The Student Film Competition, which has become one of the festival's most popular sections in recent years, is welcoming works from cinema and television students for the third time this year. The goal of this competition is to discover emerging talents and encourage students to produce high-quality and creative works [2]. The festival, which will take place from October 24 to 31, 2026, in the city of Antalya, intends to create additional motivation for young artists by awarding the prestigious Golden Orange statue to the best student film.

Participation Conditions and Submission Deadline According to the rules announced by the festival management, all students currently studying at cinematic higher education institutions can participate in this competition. Submitted works must be a maximum of 15 minutes long and produced between October 1, 2025, and July 30, 2026 [1][3]. The final deadline for registration and submission of works via the festival's official website is set for August 31, 2026. Importantly, each educational institution can participate in this international competition by nominating its students' top works.

Benefits for Young Filmmakers Students whose works reach the final stage will enjoy special benefits in addition to the chance of winning an award. These individuals will have full access (Accreditation) to all festival sections, including screenings of domestic and foreign films and specialized panels [2]. This opportunity allows students to meet and network with film industry professionals, major directors, and international producers, which can secure their professional future.

A Look at Past Successes In recent years, this section has witnessed very close competitions. For example, in the previous edition (2025), the film 'Whisper of the Hill' directed by Abdulrahim Karabulut from Istanbul University won the best film award [1]. Also, in 2024, the film 'System' by Abdulhalim Erez from Maltepe University managed to win the Golden Orange statue. The continuation of this section in 2026 demonstrates the commitment of the Antalya Municipality and the festival management to strengthening the foundations of national and international cinema through education and support for the youth [3].