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Inspired by a dream, Anıl Eraslan sets out to make a documentary about Istanbul's free improvisation music scene. Featuring his musician friends who are invited to recite their sonic dreams and stage them as musical performances, the film evolves into a phantasmagoric portrait of Istanbul, shifting between dream and reality.

Original title  Sound Dreams of Istanbul • • • Director/Editor/ Cinematographer  Anil Eraslan • • •  Producer  Anil Eraslan • • • Co-producers  Kıvılcım Akay Merve Salgar • • • Line Producer  Fuat Mert Başol • • • Sound recording and mix  Alexis Baskind • • • Colorist  Eliott Becheau

Duration  • • •  70’

Format • • • DCP / COLOR / DIGITAL & SUPER 8

Category  • • •  Documentary

Language  • • •  Turkish

Sub-titles  • • •  English, French

Shooting location  • • •  Istanbul, Turkey

Completion date  • • •  January 2025

Production company  • • •  Tantana Film

Co-production company  • • •  Akay Film

Premiere • • •  April 2025 (Istanbul Film Festival)

Anil Eraslan

ANIL ERASLAN
DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

Musician and filmmaker Anil Eraslan is working in various music and film projects in between Berlin, Paris, Strasbourg and Istanbul. From Anatolian traditional music to experimental/noise/free music, he multiplies his experiences with many ensembles and creative artists from all over the world. Sound Dreams of Istanbul is his first feature documentary film.

KIVILCIM AKAY
C0-PRODUCER

She graduated from Akdeniz University Faculty of Fine Arts (Cinema TV) in 2008. She worked in advertising sector and served to many national and international brands as agent coordinator and copywriter. In 2011, she started her own advertising and production company called Akay Film. She is the producer and director of the first fashion documentary film in Turkey “100 Years of Fashion”. In 2014, she completed another documentary called “My Wish Is Peace” in which she worked as the producer and the director of the film. The documentary Amina, which she directed, is her first feature-length documentary. Besides her carrier as a director and producer she is also a contemporary artist.

Kivilcim Akay
Merve Salgar

MERVE SALGAR
CO-PRODUCER

Born in 1990 in Istanbul, Turkey, Merve Salgar began studying music at Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music Conservatory (ITU TMDK) in 2004. In 2011, she moved to Strasbourg, France, to continue her studies. She graduated in 2016 with a master’s degree from the University of Strasbourg. She currently performs with ensembles such as SAVT, Sousta Politiki, Mire, Incredible Mektoub Orchestra, Imbroglio, Klank.ist, and Ottomaniak. She has also collaborated with musicians from both the improvisational and traditional music scenes. Sound Dreams of Istanbul  is the first film for which she worked as an associate producer.

Production Support

Development Workshops

tarabya
Ymusic
Köprüde Bulusmalar
campusistanbul

Iksv meetings on the bridge 
melodika sound award

Melodika
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