Mavi Dalga (The Blue Wave)

Growing up as a woman in the coastal region of Turkey. The blue waves of the Aegean Sea serve as a backdrop to Deniz's personal journey; a coming-of-age film that delves into the universal experiences of youth while also addressing the specific cultural and environmental context of Turkey's coastal regions. Mavi Dalga is another example of Zeynep Dadak’s and Merve Kayan’s thoughtful and artistic approach to filmmaking.

Duygu Atceken is a media designer and artist, working as a freelance professional. Her artistic practice centers around themes such as self-identity and visual traditions. In addition to her creative pursuits, Duygu is dedicated to projects at the intersection of art and society. She is communications manager for SİNEMA TRANSTOPIA.

Zeynep Dadak holds a PhD in film from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Her debut feature, The Blue Wave, premiered at the 64th Berlinale. Including Ah Gözel İstanbul (2020), her films in different formats and forms have been screened at festivals such as Rotterdam, Sheffield and Dokufest. A Medienboard and Berlin Senate fellow, Zeynep is based in Berlin where she teaches film classes while working on her new film.

Merve Kayan received her MFA in Visual Arts at UCSD. She has been making films since 1999, which have been screened at International Film Festival Rotterdam, San Francisco International Film Festival, AFI Fest and Jeonju International Film Festival. Her first feature film The Blue Wave made its world premiere at the Berlinale after winning “Best First Feature”, “Best Screenplay” and “Best Editing” awards in Turkey. Kayan currently lives, teaches and works in New York.