‘Green Homeland’ Short Film Competition Awards Ceremony Held in Ankara
Ankara, January 19 – The ‘Green Homeland’ Short Film Competition, organized in collaboration by the General Directorate of Forestry of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Foundation for Supporting Forestry Development and Forest Fire Fighting Services (OGEM-VAK), held its awards ceremony, where the winners received their accolades. The event took place at the General Directorate of Forestry Conference Hall, attended by guests, deputy ministers, and General Manager of Forestry, Bekir Karacabey.
The Vital Importance of Forests and the ‘Green Homeland’ Concept
In his address, Karacabey emphasized the multifaceted importance of forests. “When we say forest, something always comes to mind for all of us. Some envision lush green areas with flowing, clear waters, or vibrant spaces where various birds chirp and diverse creatures thrive. All of this is true. However, forests, as the source of the clean air we breathe and the water we need, are perhaps one of the most important assets for humanity,” he stated. He further added that for foresters, these areas, which the General Directorate of Forestry has been protecting since 1839, often at the cost of lives, hold a special significance. “We see forests as the green blanket covering this homeland, which our ancestors and forefathers protected by shedding their blood. We consider the protection of forests, which safeguard these lands from all threats, a patriotic duty,” Karacabey asserted.
Proactive Firefighting and Turkey’s Global Standing in Forest Conservation
Karacabey highlighted the necessity of proactive measures in combating forest fires, stating, “Essentially, firefighting should be done before a fire occurs. If we, as a society, are a little more careful, we can prevent these forest fires. That is why we decided to undertake this activity, believing that reaching broad masses of people and society can be achieved through cinema and professional use of other communication channels.” He acknowledged the support of the Minister, which encouraged them to embark on this initiative, culminating in the final awards night. Discussing the current state of forest assets, Karacabey presented an optimistic outlook for Turkey. “The world’s forest assets are gradually decreasing; the world is desertifying. What about our forests? Indeed, there is no alarming picture today. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s 2025 report on global forest assets states that Turkey has risen from sixth to fourth place in the ranking of countries that have increased their forest assets the most, and from fourth to third place in the ranking of countries that have carried out the most afforestation. In both categories, Turkey maintains its first place in Europe. This is a proud achievement for our country, and in the last 23 years alone, we have planted 8 billion 300 million saplings. This is truly a commendable achievement for our country,” he proudly announced.
Awards Presented to Professional and Student Filmmakers
Following the speeches, awards were presented to the winning finalists in both professional and student film categories. Special ‘Green Homeland’ awards and honorable mentions were also distributed during the ceremony.
Competition Overview: Celebrating Forests Through Film
The competition received 584 short film submissions from various cities, with 31 films making it to the finals. Among the finalists, 16 were student works and 15 were professional productions. The competition encouraged an artistic perspective on the ‘Green Homeland’ concept, focusing on themes such as the importance of forests, fire fighting, protection of natural life, climate change, afforestation, forest products, agriculture and animal husbandry, water resources, and sustainable living.
Source: https://www.milliyet.com.tr/yerel-haberler/ankara/ankara-yesil-vatan-kisa-film-yarismasinda-7524079
