TRT General Manager Mehmet Zahid Sobacı,

who delivered the opening speech of the TRT International Documentary Awards, reminded that the journey of the TRT International Documentary Awards began in 2009 and gained an international dimension in 2010. He stated that the festival has evolved into a documentary festival over time, bringing together the world’s most respected directors in Türkiye and supporting both amateur and professional documentarians. Sobacı stated that one of the main aspects that makes documentaries special is their ability to shed light on solutions to global issues and to lay bare the crises and injustices experienced around the world. He continued:

“The world, which has been suffering from wars, forced migration, poverty, deprivation, hunger, and many other crises for a long time, has been tested by a crisis and injustice more devastating than any you’ve ever known for over a year. Yes, for 432 days, a cry that shakes the heavens has been rising from Gaza. However, Western countries and their media outlets have shamelessly turned a deaf ear to this cry. We are once again witnessing with astonishment how those who, in their desire to impose order on the world, exploit concepts, especially ‘human rights,’ for their own interests and instrumentalize all kinds of values, have sunk into the swamp of hypocrisy in the face of genocide. In the face of this conscience-wrenching hypocrisy, we, as TRT, assume the responsibility of telling the truth.”

“We have created special topics for Gaza in the calendar of the 15th TRT International Documentary Awards.”

Sobacı stated that while Türkiye, with its honorable stance under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is teaching the world a lesson in justice and equity, TRT, as Türkiye’s public broadcaster, is striving to ensure that the cries of Palestinians resonate across all seven continents. “As a reflection of this effort,” he said, “we have also created special topics for Gaza in the calendar of the 15th TRT International Documentary Awards. We included the documentary ‘From Ground Zero,’ produced by renowned Palestinian director Rashid Mashawari and consisting of 22 short films shot in the field by 22 directors in Gaza, in our festival’s special selection. This documentary, Palestine’s Oscar nominee at the 97th Academy Awards, had its Turkish premiere today as part of the 15th TRT International Documentary Awards.”

“Today’s events in Syria have once again demonstrated that those who prosper through oppression will have a terrible end.”

Sobacı stated that they are organizing panels to raise awareness about the events in Palestine, saying, “Just before our opening program, renowned actors Liam Cunningam and Sinan Albayrak spoke on the panel titled ‘Call for Humanity.’ I would like to thank them once again in your presence. Tomorrow, we will hold another important panel titled ‘Stories of Resistance,’ with the participation of esteemed panelists. As TRT, we will continue to work with all our might to be the voice and breath of the oppressed Palestinian people in the media sphere. Israel, which has wrapped itself around the world like poison ivy, must sooner or later realize that it cannot prosper by feeding on innocent blood. Because today’s events in Syria have once again demonstrated that those who prosper through oppression will have a terrible end.”