Transformation Stories from Akbelen Forest (Akbelen Ormanı'ndan Dönüşüm)

Selen Çatalyürekli

Five women defending Akbelen forest transform through resistance to a vast coal mine. Told through an ecofeminist lens, the film explores personal change and imagines a just transition from extraction toward regenerative, gender-aware futures.

Turkey , '

DIRECTOR: Selen Çatalyürekli

PRODUCERS: Zeyneb Gültekin

Selen Çatalyürekli

Selen Çatalyürekli is a documentarist, social designer and visual artist based in Istanbul, Turkey. She received her Bachelors degree from Sabancı University’s Social and Political Science program and her Masters degree in Industrial Product Design program from Istanbul Technical University. She has been working as a freelance video director and producer for the last fifteen years. She taught “design” at Kadir Has University at Art and Design Faculty as a part time instructor. Her areas of focus are transdisciplinary design in public spaces, ecology and urban movements, migrant rights, gender issues, and visualization of memory spaces. She took part in various international art programs, and documentary projects. Her works are displayed at many art venues, universities, and NGOs.