GOKHAN YILDIZ
 GOKHAN YILDIZ
How did you discover The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
I came across the Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards while researching opportunities for independent filmmakers. What immediately stood out to me was the detailed professional feedback that accompanies the competition. After spending years immersed in a project, receiving an honest and in-depth report from experienced professionals is incredibly valuable. It offers a fresh perspective and helps you understand how your work is perceived beyond your own creative process. Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project? The inspiration came from a newspaper article I read years ago. It made me wonder how far a person might go when driven by the longing for love, family, and belonging. That question stayed with me and gradually evolved into NATURMORT. How long did it take you to write your script or produce your pitch deck/sizzle reel/trailer…and what was your development process? NATURMORT has been in development for around five years. During that time, both the screenplay and the film’s visual language evolved through constant refinement. Rather than separating writing from filmmaking, I developed the story, atmosphere, cinematography, and sound as one interconnected process. The trailer was created from the feature film itself, allowing it to authentically reflect the tone and cinematic language of the final film. To support the production, I also rented a house that became the film’s primary location and an essential part of its visual identity. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker? My ambition is to explore how cinema can reach the human subconscious. I’m fascinated by the emotional power of images, atmosphere, sound, and silence, and by the idea that films can communicate things words cannot. I hope to continue creating films that leave a lasting impression and invite personal interpretation. Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why? David Lynch has probably been my strongest influence because of the way he explores the subconscious and trusts the audience to interpret his films. But I’m inspired by many other filmmakers and films for different reasons. Countless films have reached my subconscious in ways that words never could, and that’s what continues to fascinate me about cinema. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? My all-time favorite film is Lost Highway. What fascinates me most is its atmosphere, its sense of mystery, and the way it leaves room for interpretation. I enjoy films that continue to unfold in your mind long after the credits roll, revealing something different each time you reflect on them. How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests? I see film festivals and competitions as opportunities to learn, connect, and understand how my work resonates with others. Filmmaking often feels like a one-sided form of communication—you create something and spend years with it before anyone else experiences it. Festivals complete that communication by creating a dialogue between the film, the audience, and the filmmaker. That’s one of the things I value most about participating. What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? I think it’s important to find the right balance between your own inner voice and an objective outside perspective. If you only listen to yourself, you risk standing in your own way. But if you only follow trends or the opinions of others, you can lose your own voice. The challenge is to know when to listen to others—and when to trust yourself. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I’m currently working on my debut feature film, NATURMORT – Driven by Silence. I’m looking forward to sharing it with audiences once it’s complete. Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDb, etc.) IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm18637709/ FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/GokhanYildiz Mail: [email protected] |
