Yellow Letters

Directed by İlker Çatak

Germany

2026

127 mins

Unclassified 15+

Winner of the Berlinale Golden Bear. A family descends into turmoil after a simple act of disobedience triggers authoritarian persecution. A searing critique of our times.

Celebrated artist couple Derya (Özgü Namal), an actor; and Aziz (Tansu Biçer), a drama professor/playwright; live a happy and fulfilling life in Türkiye. But when Derya refuses a photo op insisted upon by a government official after a performance – the repercussions are severe. Their jobs disappear, they face legal action and they lose their home. In the face of this persecution – and with a daughter to raise – the couple’s relationship comes under extreme strain. Oscar-nominated director İlker Çatak (The Teacher’s Lounge) audaciously shot the film in Germany – with ‘Berlin as Ankara’ and ‘Hamburg as Istanbul’ – powerfully showing that threats to civil and artistic freedoms are not limited to certain countries.

“Riveting … At its core is the kind of cinema that has long sustained the medium at large: the family drama. But it’s presented here with invigorating flourishes that encircle the story within specific moments in time, while also granting it a stirring dramatic transcendence.”

Siddhant Adlakha, Variety

“Çatak fashions a film that’s both a gripping marital drama and a rallying cry against artist censorship.”

Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire

Siddhant Adlakha, Variety

Tickets

Thu 4 June 2026, 6pm

Past Event

Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace - Cinema 2

Hayden Orpheum - Cinema 2

Thu 11 June 2026, 8:30pm

Past Event

State Theatre

Fri 12 June 2026, 8:45pm

Past Event

Ritz Cinemas Randwick - Cinema 5

Ritz Randwick - Cinema 5

See more, save more with a Flexipass or Youth Pass

Presented By

Program Strand
Special Presentations
Original Title
GELBE BRIEFE
Year
2026
Classification
Unclassified 15+
Country
Germany, France, Türkiye
Language
In Turkish with English subtitles
Director
İlker Çatak
Producer
Ingo Fliess
Cast
Özgü Namal, Tansu Biçer, Leyla Smyrna Cabas
Screenwriter
İlker Çatak, Ayda Meryem Çatak, Enis Köstepen
Cinematographer
Judith Kaufmann
Editor
Gesa Jäger
Composer
Marvin Miller
Genre
Award Winner, Human Rights, Politics, Arts, Asia
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Company Credits
Australian Distributor: Rialto Distribution

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Don’t miss a thing!

Whether you’re in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

SFF

About

Support

General Enquiries

Ticketing Enquiries

Office Hours

MONDAY – FRIDAY: 9AM – 5PM AEDT

Discover