GECENİN KIYISI (Edge of Night)

Sinan, a young lieutenant in the Turkish army, is asked to hand over his brother Kenan to a military court. Burdened by the tragic death of their father, both brothers embark on a journey through a land marked by political unrest. As they confront their beliefs, Sinan’s convictions are put to the ultimate test on the night of the coup. In a country where the State demands absolute loyalty, the brothers must decide if they are ready to face the sacrifices required by their duty and their conscience.

This story began for me with the destruction of graves in eastern Türkiye. Angry residents knocked over tombstones believing the buried were separatist terrorists. I was shaken. Where does this hatred come from, that doesn’t even spare the dead? Türkiye feels more polarised than ever. There appears to be a climate of deep mistrust. I am interested in understanding what it means to live in such a context, where everyone can quickly become suspicious. I decided to tell this story through the conflict of two brothers, whose personal struggles reflect societal fractures and also the psychological conflicts that arise from living in such an environment. Even though their father was a prominent general, the brothers are repeatedly confronted with suspicion due to their mother’s non-Turkish background. What is it like to have one’s existence constantly questioned? What must one do to be accepted, and what is the cost of dissent? Filming in Türkiye was profoundly meaningful to me, as I feel deeply connected to this country. Moreover, this story holds particular significance for me. Growing up in Germany with Turkish roots, acceptance always seemed fragile, like a residence permit that could be revoked at any time. One mistake, and everything you achieved could lose its value, much like the two brothers on constant probation. Though set in Türkiye, the story’s themes are universal: navigating an increasingly authoritarian system and struggling to maintain one’s identity amid prejudice and mistrust. Gecenin Kıyısı / Edge of Night tells the story of a man leading his brother to doom, reflecting a society on the brink of losing its humanity.

PRODUCTION 1: MFP GmbH – Viola Fügen
Domstraße 60
50668, Cologne, Germany
info@matchfactory.de

PRODUCTION 2: Liman Film - Nadir Öperli İrem Akbal
Kolektif House, Evliya Çelebi Mah. Sadi Konuralp Cd.
34422, Istanbul, Turkey
Tel. +90 533 661 77 37
nadir.operli@limanfilm.com

WORLD SALES: The Match Factory - Michael Weber
Domstraße 60
50668, Cologne, Germany
info@matchfactory.de

PRESS OFFICE: Gloria Zerbinati
Independent
Via Palmiro Togliatti 15
45010 Rovigo, Italy
Tel. +33 0) 7 86 80 02 82
gloria.zerbinati@gmail.com