Gonella Productions

LANGUAGES: Dutch, Turkish | SUBTITLES: English

SYNOPSIS

Turkish-Dutch Yildiz lip-synchs passionately in her Barbie-pink princess room. Downstairs, her parents argue, as usual. In the afternoon, Yildiz daydreams absentmindedly in class, until a text catches her eye: 'God can help'. After school, she sneaks off to church, and prays hopeful for a peaceful home. Her prayers aren’t heard, and when Yildiz later suggests that she would like to take communion, her mother bursts in anger. Yildiz wishes herself away to a place where everyone looks at her with full attention. In her fantasy, she is safe, powerful, watching over everyone, like a shining star.

CAST

Yildiz: Aicha Zahra Darmouli
Mother: Ayla Çekin Satijn
Father: Harun Balci
Teacher: Marloes IJpelaar
Priest: Frank van Soest

CREDITS

Original title: Yildiz
International title: Yildiz
Director: Ayla Çekin Satijn
Screenplay: Ayla Çekin Satijn
Producer: Laura Bouwmeester, Rogier Kramer
Line producer: Sammy Wisniewski
First assistant director: Anna van Schijndel
Director of photography: Josje van Erkel, NSC
First AC and focuspuller: Majid Rezaie
Gaffer: Erwin Smit
Sound: Anneloes Pabbruwee
Production design: Lonneke Orbons
Costume designer: Thijs van der Heijden
Hair and Make-up: Rafke Hotterbeekx
Editor: Fatih Tura
Sound design: Burak Öztaş
Composer: Reinhard van Bergen, Charlotte Caluwaerts
Yildiz was realised with the support of the Netherlands Film Fund, the Province of Limburg, Limburg Film Fund, ZOZ Fund, Brand Cultuurfonds Limburg, CineSud and Diaconie Evangelisch-Lutherse Gemeente Amsterdam.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Project type: Short
Runtime: 00:11:37
Genre: Drama, childhood
Subgenre: Domestic violence, religion
Completion date: January 1st, 2024
Country of production: The Netherlands
Country of filming: The Netherlands
Languages: Dutch, Turkish
Shooting format: Digital
Aspect ratio: 1,85:1
Film color/black & white: Color
Available formats: DCP, Prores, H264
Available languages: Dutch, English

FESTIVAL SELECTIONS & AWARDS

Netherlands Film Festival (NL)
Milan Film Fest International (IT)
SHIFT Film Forum (NL)
Limburg Film Festival (NL)
Filmfestival Oostende (BE)