The Contact 

by Mert Erez
Konya Selçuk University, Turkey

Jury Motivation by Gita Feizi

From the very first moments of The Contact, even before a single line is spoken, it becomes clear that we are about to witness a remarkable work from Turkish cinema. The atmosphere, color palette, and initial silence immediately evoke the meditative tone characteristic of Turkey’s most contemplative films.

The story unfolds gradually, layer by layer — like peeling an onion, with each layer revealing a new truth and a deeper emotion. At its center stands a father who returns after many years, seeking to know a son who, in fact, does not exist. This absence forms the emotional and symbolic core of the film, drawing the viewer into a world of loss, memory, and the search for identity.

The director skillfully uses dialogue as a bridge between scenes. Each exchange serves not only to convey information but also to sustain rhythm and narrative continuity. Every scene is linked to the next through a key phrase or subtle cue, giving the film a fluid and cohesive structure.

The screenplay and direction move in perfect harmony. The mise-en-scène is precise and deliberate, while the camera captures the unspoken emotions beneath the surface. In the silences and lingering gazes of Ali — the film’s central character — lie sorrow, regret, and a repressed pain that ultimately erupts in an intense emotional climax.

The film’s measured rhythm allows emotions to settle gradually within the audience, keeping them immersed in a state of quiet reflection until the very end.

Synopsis

Following the death of his son, Ali returns to the town he left years ago. There, he is left with only a few belongings of the boy he never knew — a wallet, a photograph, and a cell phone. Using the contacts stored in the phone, Ali begins to trace his son’s life, speaking with the people who once knew him. Like a detective, he pieces together fragments of his son’s world in a quiet effort to finally understand him.

Director's biography

He was born in 1993. He received training in radio, TV and cinema. He wrote two storybooks. He also continues to work as a football writer, screenwriter and director.

Credits

Director: Mert Erez
Cinematography: Mert Erez
Producer: Mert Erez, Alican Erkılıç Yormaz, Meryem Sena Metin, Ece Yörenç, Bilen Bilmen

Specifications

Original title: Rehber
Running time: 20'
Film type: Fiction
Country: Turkey