“THE DUMP OF UNTITLED PIECES”  MAKES ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE TALLINN BLACK NIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL!

Written and directed by Melik Kuru, THE DUMP OF UNTITLED PIECES held its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Competing in the First Feature section, the film tells the story of a young woman striving to exist through her passion in Turkey’s economic and political ecosystem, offering a satirical, original narrative blending drama and comedy within the contemporary art world. The cast features award-winning young actress Manolya Maya and Ekremcan Aslandağ, joined by acclaimed actors Tuğrul Tülek and Tülin Özen.

Facing imminent eviction, an idealistic young female photographer and her hapless roommate attempt to sell her work to galleries for the first time, embarking on a bumpy journey through the collapsing art market of Istanbul.

The film stars Manolya Maya (winner of the Best Actress Award at the 42nd Istanbul Film Festival) alongside Ekremcan Aslandağ, with Tuğrul Tülek and Tülin Özen as well as Ceylan Özgün Özçelik, Okan Avcı, Cüneyt Yalaz, Emrah Özdemir, Ege Derin in supporting roles.

Young people’s struggle with the industry and with life

In his first feature film THE DUMP OF UNTITLED PIECES, Melik Kuru seeks to redefine the value of art within a marketplace where the personal is glorified without question, and where countless narratives complete their brief butterfly lifespans before being forgotten in a metaphorical “dump.” Turkey is losing its youth. Those who leave live with the unbearable lightness of feeling foreign in a place that is foreign to them. Those who stay face a deep existential crisis marked by anxieties about their own capacities.

THE DUMP OF UNTITLED PIECES reveals this reality through both satire and an interplay of drama and humor, suggesting that the value of art lies not in the work itself but in the youth of the late-capitalist era: their friendships, joys, anxieties, exhilarations, and indecisions.

The black-and-white film, shot in Istanbul, features a production team consisting of Hilal Şenel as producer and creative producer, Fahriye Ismayilova as producer, Simla Güran as co-producer, and Koray Arıgümüş as executive producer. Barış Aygen serves as the director of photography, Elif Önel as the production designer, Serhad Mutlu as the editor, Alexander Dumitru as the sound designer, Efe Demiral as the original music composer, Ezgi Baltaş as the casting director, Edze Ali as the still photographer and consultant, and Aslı Melisa Uzun as the choreographer.

THE DUMP OF UNTITLED PIECES held its world premiere on Friday, November 14th at Apollo Plaza Cinema with the participation of the film’s cast and crew.

Awards to be announced November 21

The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 21. Competing in the First Feature section, THE DUMP OF UNTITLED PIECES is among 13 films from 12 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America.

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About Melik Kuru

Melik Kuru (1989) dropped architecture school and had his BA at Koc University Media and Visual Arts program ranking first in his class. He pursued his MFA in Film at Columbia University where he wrote, directed and edited various short films. His short film, We Are a Family (2020) had its premiere at Antalya Film Festival and got awarded with notable Jury Selects and Audience Award at Columbia University Film Festival. His projects were selected for notable markets such as CineLink, Connecting Cottbus and Meetings on The Bridge. In addition to his directorial work, the feature film he edited Hesitation Wound (2023, dir. Selman Nacar) premiered at Venice Film Festival Orizzonti Selection. The American-Turkish short he co-produced Sparks Lampini (2022) had its premiere at Palm Springs Short Film Festival. Dump of Untitled Pieces is his debut feature film.