Oscar®-nominated The Teachers’ Lounge director İlker Çatak returns to the Berlinale with his new film Gelbe Briefe (Sarı Zarflar – Yellow Letters), which will have its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, taking place from February 12–22, 2026. The film will compete in the festival’s Main Competition for the Golden Bear, while its leading actors Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer are among the contenders for the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance.
Ideals or survival?
Co-written by İlker Çatak, Ayda Meryem Çatak, and Enis Köstepen, Gelbe Briefe focuses on a family caught between ideals and the instinct to survive. The lives of Derya and Aziz, a well-known artist couple in Ankara, are turned upside down after the premiere of their new play. Suddenly losing both their jobs and their home, the couple is forced to move to Istanbul with their 13-year-old daughter Ezgi to try to build a new life.
Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer in the leading roles
The film stars Özgü Namal and Tansu Biçer, alongside Leyla Smyrna Cabas, İpek Bilgin, Aydın Işık, Aziz Çapkurt, Yusuf Akgün, Uygar Tamer, Jale Arıkan, Seda Türkmen, Emre Bakar, Elit İşcan, Sultan Ulutaş Alopé, Emine Meyrem, and İpek Seyalıoğlu. Casting was handled by Ceren Sena Akdeniz.
Reuniting The Teachers’ Lounge team
The film brings together key members of The Teachers’ Lounge creative team once again, including cinematographer Judith Kaufmann, editor Gesa Jäger, and composer Marvin Miller. Production design is by Zazie Knepper, with costumes designed by Christian Röhrs.
Ankara in Hamburg, Istanbul in Berlin
Drawing attention with its distinctive visual approach, Gelbe Briefe features an unconventional production choice by İlker Çatak. Scenes set in Ankara were filmed on sets and selected locations in Hamburg, while Istanbul scenes were recreated in Berlin, reimagining the atmosphere of both cities within Germany.
Turkish release date to be announced
A co-production between Germany, France, and Turkey, the film is produced by Ingo Fliess (if… Productions), with co-producers Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo, and Eliott Khayat (Haut et Court), as well as Nadir Öperli and Enis Köstepen (Liman Film).
Gelbe Briefe will meet audiences for the first time at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival and will be released in Turkey by Bir Film. Its theatrical release date will be announced in the coming months.
