Meet our Guest of Honor

Nehir Tuna is a Turkish film screenwriter and director, known for his socially engaged storytelling and distinctive cinematic style. He writes and directs films that explore personal and political themes, often reflecting on identity, upbringing, and the complexities of contemporary Turkey. He holds an MFA in directing from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has pursued graduate film studies at Columbia University. Tuna was a 2019 Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Fellow and 2018 Nipkow Fellow. He has written and directed various films, and his feature-length debut is Dormitory (original Turkish title Yurt), a coming-of-age drama that premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti section. Before Dormitory, he wrote and directed several short films, including The Shoes, which acted as a precursor to the feature. Tuna’s work often centers on stories about young people shaped by restrictive environments, exploring how early life experiences influence identity and personal freedom.