How was the sixth day of "SevilFest"?

The sixth day of SevilFest brought together film screenings, a masterclass, and special events that celebrated cinema as a space for learning, dialogue, and connection.

The day began with the international short documentaries Crow's Feet and Macula.

The programme continued with the masterclass From an Azerbaijani-Speaking Village to the Oscars, led by Academy Award–nominated directors Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki. Offering a behind-the-scenes look at contemporary documentary filmmaking, the session invited audiences to discover the unseen journey behind Cutting Through Rocks, nominated for the 2026 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Eyni and Khaki shared the story of how the film came to life, reflecting on its development, production process, and the many challenges they encountered along the way. From a remote Azerbaijani-speaking village in Iran to some of the world's most prestigious film platforms, they spoke about research, filming, editing, international collaboration, building long-term trust with their protagonist, and the creative decisions that shape a documentary. The masterclass offered a rare insight into the often invisible realities of documentary film production.

In the evening, audiences gathered for a screening of Whispers of May as part of the Festival Picks programme.

In collaboration with KYNO, SevilFest also hosted Speed Dating for Film Lovers. Sometimes, all it takes to get to know someone is a single question: What's your favourite film? Instead of the usual icebreakers, participants began their conversations through cinema. During a series of short one-on-one meetings, they met fellow film enthusiasts, changing tables as each round came to an end and beginning new conversations.

Favourite genres, directors they could talk about for hours, films they return to again and again, and even beloved classics they simply couldn't stand became the starting points for lively exchanges. The event gave participants the chance to find a new festival companion, someone to share endless conversations about cinema with, or simply another person who fell in love with the same film for exactly the same reason. With its unique concept, Speed Dating for Film Lovers became one of the festival's most memorable and talked-about events.

The day concluded with the first edition of Reading Night, SevilFest's new series bringing together literature, cinema, and creative thinking. The inaugural gathering was dedicated to one of the most distinctive voices of Turkish poetry, Nilgün Marmara.

The evening opened with a screening of the documentary Nilgün, joined by its director, Tolga Oskar. Together, participants discussed the making of the film, as well as Nilgün Marmara's life and literary legacy. Following the screening, the group gathered to read and reflect on her poetry, sharing thoughts inspired by her words. Printed copies of her poems were distributed to participants, allowing everyone to take part in a collective reading that brought the evening to a thoughtful and intimate close.