"Cumhuriyet’in Öncü Kadınları" Wins an Award at the Athens International Art Film Festival with Its New Project!

The documentary “Türkan: A Scientist’s Story”, which tells the life of Prof. Türkan Saylan, has earned an Honorable Mention Award at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival. The documentary’s producer, journalist, and writer Özlem Özdemir, who is recognized as one of today’s pioneering women of the Republic, received this distinction in the Best Documentary category, where the film was selected among the top three documentaries.

“Türkan Saylan Deserves Global Recognition”

Özlem Özdemir, who took on the roles of producer, scriptwriter, and narrator, expressed her emotions about the award:

"Words cannot describe how happy this news has made me. I never expected my first experience as a producer to be honored at an international festival. But what makes this even more special is that it happened with a documentary about Türkan Saylan. This is a milestone in my career, and I believe it is a proud moment for Turkey as well."

Özdemir explained that the documentary was produced in honor of the Republic’s 100th anniversary with the support of ÇYDD (Association for Supporting Contemporary Life), and emphasized that her goal was not to win awards, but to raise awareness:

"I submitted the film to various national and international festivals that I deemed suitable, but my main goal was to spread awareness about Türkan Saylan. I feel honored to have contributed to this cause. I extend my heartfelt thanks once again to Prof. Ayşe Yüksel, President of ÇYDD, who shared my excitement from the beginning and supported the production."

"This year, I had the entire film technically reworked to increase its chances in competitions. I owe immense gratitude to Gülay Ayyıldız Yiğitcan, a brilliant director who did an outstanding job. Two women joined forces, and with our own resources, we created a documentary truly worthy of Türkan Saylan."

"We Created 'Republic’s Pioneering Women' as a Brand"

Özdemir also shared insights into future projects and the growth of the "Cumhuriyet’in Öncü Kadınları" brand:

"In the 100th year of our Republic, we created the brand 'Cumhuriyet’in Öncü Kadınları.' The first project under this brand was the 'Republic’s Pioneering Women Exhibition,' where Türkan Saylan was naturally included as an exemplary Republican woman. This exhibition, and indeed the entire brand’s creation, was made possible with the invaluable support of Şehrinaz Kartal, Vice President of Marketing at Açık Holding."

"This documentary became the next project under our brand, and in 2025, we will continue to be the voice of women who inspire both past and present. I tell the stories of the women who built the Republic, but I am fortunate to be surrounded by women who continue to uphold it today—together, we are writing our own stories."

A Documentary Celebrating a Scientist and a Visionary Woman

“Türkan: A Scientist’s Story” highlights the inspiring life of Prof. Türkan Saylan—a Republican woman, an idealistic scientist, and a pioneer of contemporary education. The documentary not only portrays her scientific contributions but also her life as a woman in the academic world.

The film will be publicly available for viewing starting this fall.