Gulizar Poster

U.S. Premiere

About This Film

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Festival Year: 2025
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Run Time: 84 Minutes
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Film Type: Feature
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Animated: No
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Countr(ies): Kosovo, Turkey
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Language: Albanian, Turkish
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English Subtitles: Yes
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Captions: None

Film Overview

Original Title: Gülizar
English Title: Gulizar

US PREMIEREIn this taut psychological drama about the ripples of assault, a Turkish woman is attacked at a roadhouse while on her way to her wedding in Kosovo. But the festivities must go on, and we are observers to Gülizar’s emotional turmoil of what to do, who to tell, and how to hold your head up high.22-year-old Gülizar lives in a small town where life is quiet but heavy with unspoken rules. Raised in a loving yet strict Turkish household, she’s always dreamed of something more than the rigid, taboo-laden world that’s been imposed on the women around her. Her upcoming marriage in Kosovo feels like the new beginning she’s been waiting for—a chance to break free. But during the journey, Gülizar is sexually assaulted, and everything she hoped for quickly falls apart.As her wedding day approaches, she feels trapped in a life that no longer feels like hers. The wedding preparations—those well-wishes, the rituals, the dresses—become suffocating reminders of a future that seems unreachable. As the days pass, Gülizar is torn between silence and survival, her mind consumed with the fear that the identity of her attacker will be revealed. If it is, it could destroy not just her, but everything she’s known. With little hope of finding justice and her relationship with her fiancé falling apart, Gülizar is faced with a fight for control over her life, a battle she never imagined she’d have to face.Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.GUEST(S) ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR Q&A

Film Contact: Digital 104 Film Distribution

Cast & Crew

Directed By

Belkıs Bayrak

Produced By

Mehmet Bahadır Er, Belkıs Bayrak, Murat Yaşar Bayrak

Screenwriting

Belkıs Bayrak

Cinematographers

Kürşat Üresin

Editors

Selin Eren Şahin

Principal Cast

Ecem Uzun, Bekir Behrem, Aslı İçözü, Serdar Bordanacı, Hülya Aydın, Şehsuvar Aktaş, Hakan Yufkacıgil, Ernest Malazogu, Hazel Torlak