Give Me a Lighter
Ah Bir Ataş Ver
Fiction, 2018, 4K-UHD, 30’00’’ (with English subtitles)

The Dumlupınar Submarine collides with a Swedish ship while navigating off Nara Point and is buried in the depths of the strait within seconds. The soldiers trapped inside the submarine enter a waiting period that will last for days, hoping to be rescued.


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Gökhan Kaya’s fifth film, Give Me a Lighter , which focuses on a submarine tragedy that took place in 1953, has won 7 awards at national and international film festivals. The film, whose festival journey is still ongoing, has so far been featured in 19 festivals, 5 workshops, and 4 international market catalogs.

In 2018, at the Ringerike Film Festival in Norway, chaired by Adama Ulrich, the film won the Grand Jury Prize based on the justification:

"The emotional and poignant impact created by the good team, magnificent cinematography, and the right location ensures the audience continues to reflect long after the film is over."

Furthermore, Give Me a Lighter holds the distinction of being the first short film globally to be released on VOD platforms like iTunes and Apple TV.

The film attempts to establish a connection between the soldiers trapped inside the sinking submarine following a collision, awaiting rescue, and Victor Hugo’s novel, The Last Day of a Condemned Man. It seeks answers to the question of how the relationship between the state and the soldier might evolve when faced with the reality of death.

Lydia Georgana, one of Europe's leading casting directors who has appeared at events such as the Venice Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, shared her comments about Give Me a Lighter in a special video:

"Having spent 20 years in the cinema industry, I have worked on various projects both domestically and internationally. Mamma Mia, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, many German film and TV productions, and series made in the UK... Honestly, I was astonished for the first time in years. I never thought a 22-year-old could create such a magnificent work of art."

Awards, Festivals & Markets

Awards

  • Norway
    Ringerike International Short Film Festival
    “Grand Jury Prize”
  • Izmir Film Festival
    “Best Short Film”
  • Usak Winged Seahorse International Film Festival
    “Best Cinematography”
  • Usak Winged Seahorse International Film Festival
    “Best Art Director”
  • International Kisa-Ca Short Film Festival
    “Best Short Film”
  • Marmara University Kisa Kisa Film Festival
    “Best Script”
  • Bingol International Film Festival
    “Second Best Short Film”
  • Kızkalesi Film Festival
    “Special Jury Prize”

Festivals

  • Armenia
    Golden Apricot International Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Portugal
    Caminhos International Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • United States of America
    Los Angeles World Film Fair
    “Official Selection”
  • Russia
    XI IYFF KZN
    “Official Selection”
  • England
    Lift-Off Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Nepal
    Yala International Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Cyprus
    European Films Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Izmir International Short Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Yildiz Short Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Istanbul Okan University Short Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Atif Yilmaz Short Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Antakya International Film Festival
    “Official Selection”
  • Trojan Horse International Film Festival
    “Official Selection”

Markets

  • 72th Cannes Film Festival, Short Film Corner
  • 69th International Berlin Film Festival, European Film Market
  • 41th Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, Short Film Market
  • 2019 Los Angeles The World Film Fair

Special Screenings

  • Golden Leaf Film Festival
  • Alternative Short 12
  • DEU GSF
  • Lumiere Short
  • Ege Art Artlens
  • DEFOT
  • İTO
Crew & Main Cast

Crew

  • Writer and Director
    Gökhan Kaya
  • Director of Photography and Assistant Director
    Oğuz Han Kaya
  • Editing
    Gökhan Kaya
  • Light
    Oğuz Han Kaya
  • Art Director
    Rahmi Savran
  • Original Music
    Piano Turca
  • Colorist
    Emir Yanat
  • Camera Operator
    Hamit Uzun
  • Sound Record
    Emir Buğra Kazak
  • Sound Assistant
    Ahmet Beran
  • Regie Coordination
    Mahmut Duyan
  • Light Assistant
    Cem Daşgın
  • Art Assistant
    Berna Aksoy
  • D.I.T.
    Hande Koç
  • Regie Support
    Vedat Oyan
  • Make-Up
    Begüm Atalay
  • Still Photographer
    İlkyaz Portakalcıoğlu

Main Cast

  • Barış Akın
  • Eray Ertüren
  • Gökmen Göçbeyli
  • Metehan Kaya
  • Özgür Molla
  • Tamer Yılmaz
  • Ulvi Kahyaoğlu