Yeşim Ustaoğlu's 'What Remains' Returns to San Sebastián Film Festival

Yeşim Ustaoğlu, the acclaimed Turkish filmmaker, is set to captivate audiences once more at the San Sebastián Film Festival with her latest work, 'What Remains'. This marks her return to the prestigious festival after her 2008 triumph with 'Pandora's Box', which secured the coveted Golden Shell award and earned its lead actress the Silver Shell for best actress.

'What Remains' delves into the personal journey of Elif, a poet embarking on a quest for self-realization. The narrative explores themes of personal liberation as Elif seeks to rediscover her inner voice and creative essence, challenging conventional notions of family, identity, and life's meaning. Her journey, in turn, prompts those around her to re-evaluate their own existences, steering the entire family dynamic in a new direction. The film features Öykü Karayel in the leading role, supported by Metin Akdülger, Ali Kayra Kul, and İlyas Salman.

Ustaoğlu describes 'What Remains' as a deeply personal endeavor, born from her own desire to break free from a pervasive sense of constraint and exhaustion, a feeling she observed not only within herself but also in her surroundings. She views the film as an exploration of the suffocating cycles that standardize and deplete individual creativity, suggesting that true freedom lies in pausing, stepping back, and gaining a new perspective on life.

The film is a Turkish production by Ustaoglu Film, co-produced with Luxembourg's Tarantula, Bulgaria's RFF International, and France's Cite Films. Mubi, which owns The Match Factory and is also a co-producer, has secured all distribution rights for Turkey. Global sales for 'What Remains' are being managed by The Match Factory. The 74th San Sebastián Film Festival is scheduled to take place from September 18th to 26th.