Culture and arts agenda
Prepared by: Deniz Burak BAYRAK
• FESTIVAL
The Ayvalık International Film Festival, organized by the Seyir Association in collaboration with the Ayvalık Municipality, begins on September 16th. The festival, which runs until September 21st, will showcase 65 films from over 20 countries. The festival atmosphere will spread throughout Ayvalık with talks, panels, and side events following the screenings.
• BALLET
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 9:00 PM, the ballet "Zorba" (Zorba), inspired by Nikos Kazantzakis' novel of the same name and adapted for the stage with world-renowned melodies by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis and music by choreographer Lorca Massine, will be performed at the 32nd International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival. With its music inspired by Greek folk melodies, high-energy dances, and powerful stage performance, the work will be performed in the historic atmosphere of the Aspendos Ancient Theater.
Canan Tolon's exhibition, "Refrain," has opened at Dirimart Pera. Consisting of twelve large-scale, consecutively hung abstract paintings by the artist, the exhibition traces a siege dominated by organic power and cyclical time, where the repressed sounds of nature haunt the viewer. These twelve floral compositions also represent a rebellion against the impossibility of painting silently. The exhibition runs until September 28th.
• FESTIVAL
One of Türkiye's most established jazz festivals, the Akbank Jazz Festival, will once again host prominent figures from the global jazz scene in Istanbul for its 35th year, with the motto "The city's jazz state." Organized by Akbank Sanat and BKM, the festival will take place this year from September 27 to October 12. In addition to the musical program, the festival also offers opportunities for exploration through panels and workshops.
• MUSIC
Harun Tekin, lead singer of mor ve Ötesi, will be performing at the Turkcell Stage at Zorlu PSM on Sunday, November 9th, for the launch concert of his new solo project, Test 1-2-3. In this special two-part show, Tekin is joined by two multi-instrumentalist musicians on some tracks, elevating the energy on stage to a whole new level. Following Test 1-2, which previously appeared at various venues in Istanbul, Çeşme, New York, Vienna, and Hamburg, Test 1-2-3 stands out as a special moment in Harun Tekin's musical journey.
BirGün
