Films for change: Discover 10 years of Cinema4ACause

Welcome to Cinema4ACause, a pioneering giving program by Bridge to Türkiye Fund (BTF), crafted to shed light on gender and education inequality in rural Türkiye through the power of film. Launched by BTF’s Chicago Circle in 2014, this program serves as a dynamic platform for sparking meaningful dialogues and driving change by funding education scholarships.

 

 

What is Cinema4ACause?

Cinema4ACause delves into the heart of societal issues in Türkiye, particularly focusing on education and gender equality. Through carefully selected films that reflect the social, cultural, and economic realities across the country’s different regions, we aim to engage audiences who may be unfamiliar with these pressing concerns. Our goal is to educate, raise awareness, and expand perspectives, as understanding stands as the first step toward genuine transformation.

Progress through the years

The initiative took off during International Women’s Week in March 2014, starting with a bang at the screening of “Evcilik” (Playing House) by Elmas Bingöl. This event attracted over 100 attendees and successfully funded the equivalent of 5 annual scholarships. Buoyed by this success, BTF Chicago made turned the screening into an annual event, dedicating all proceeds to the Empowerment Scholarships program of the Bridge to Türkiye Fund.

Though the series faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re excited to announce its return in 2024 with the screening of “Feyza’s Kitchen.” 

                        “Join Us on This Journey”

The difference we have made

Cinema4ACause has been instrumental in generating essential scholarships for numerous underprivileged female students in Türkiye. Each event brings us closer to bridging the gap in gender and education equality, one film at a time. To date, Cinema4ACause has supported the educational journeys of … girls in Türkiye by generating annual scholarships through screenings.

  “Join Us on This Journey” 

Be part of this transformative series. Stay tuned for the latest updates on upcoming screenings and how you can contribute to this vital cause.

2014: Evcilik (Playing House) by Bingöl Elmas

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A total of … screenings in … US states generated … scholarships for underprivileged girls in Turkey.

Read more here.

2015: Halam Geldi (My Aunt Has Arrived) by Sami Dündar & Erhan Kozan

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla vestibulum, justo eget eleifend volutpat, felis orci venenatis ligula, eget dictum leo massa vel ex. Duis in commodo est. Aliquam erat volutpat. Duis vitae posuere nibh, non interdum mi. Nunc et rutrum augue. Praesent ut sollicitudin tellus, ac bibendum mi. Maecenas suscipit placerat enim id condimentum. Cras et lacus ut ante elementum varius. Ut pharetra purus sed quam sagittis, vel aliquet libero ultrices. Sed enim justo, convallis id pellentesque nec, ullamcorper sit amet elit.

A total of … screenings in … US states generated … scholarships for underprivileged girls in Turkey.

Read more here.

2016: Yarım (The Half) by Çağıl Nurhak Aydoğdu

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A total of … screenings in … US states generated … scholarships for underprivileged girls in Turkey.

Read more here.

2017: Yün Bebek (Woolly Doll) by Ümmiye Koçak

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla vestibulum, justo eget eleifend volutpat, felis orci venenatis ligula, eget dictum leo massa vel ex. Duis in commodo est. Aliquam erat volutpat. Duis vitae posuere nibh, non interdum mi. Nunc et rutrum augue. Praesent ut sollicitudin tellus, ac bibendum mi. Maecenas suscipit placerat enim id condimentum. Cras et lacus ut ante elementum varius. Ut pharetra purus sed quam sagittis, vel aliquet libero ultrices. Sed enim justo, convallis id pellentesque nec, ullamcorper sit amet elit.

A total of 16 screenings in 14 US states generated … scholarships for underprivileged girls in Turkey.

Read more here.

2018: Yapabilirsin (You Can Do It) by Tuluhan Tekelioğlu

“Yapabilirsin” (You Can Do It!) is a documentary about courage and hope, dedicated to the power of women. It is about accepting what it is or taking a step to change it. It is about nine women who decided to take a step to change their lives and acted courageously with their hearts and inner strengths with contagious optimism. They are true examples of what is possible when you believe in yourself. “You Can Do It” emphasizes the fact that you can change your life in the way you choose to, rather than being imposed on it by the traditional role of a woman — Tuluhan says.

A total of … screenings in … US states generated … scholarships for underprivileged girls in Turkey.

Read more here.

2019: Müzikli Bir Hikaye (A Story with Music) by Jale İncekol

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla vestibulum, justo eget eleifend volutpat, felis orci venenatis ligula, eget dictum leo massa vel ex. Duis in commodo est. Aliquam erat volutpat. Duis vitae posuere nibh, non interdum mi. Nunc et rutrum augue. Praesent ut sollicitudin tellus, ac bibendum mi. Maecenas suscipit placerat enim id condimentum. Cras et lacus ut ante elementum varius. Ut pharetra purus sed quam sagittis, vel aliquet libero ultrices. Sed enim justo, convallis id pellentesque nec, ullamcorper sit amet elit.

A total of … screenings in … US states generated … scholarships for underprivileged girls in Turkey.

Read more here.

2020: Bu İşte Bir Umut Var (There is Hope) by Jale İncekol

A documentary about the miraculous “village institutes” project of the early republican period in Turkey. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla vestibulum, justo eget eleifend volutpat, felis orci venenatis ligula, eget dictum leo massa vel ex. Duis in commodo est. Aliquam erat volutpat. Duis vitae posuere nibh, non interdum mi. Nunc et rutrum augue. Praesent ut sollicitudin tellus, ac bibendum mi. Maecenas suscipit placerat enim id condimentum. Cras et lacus ut ante elementum varius. Ut pharetra purus sed quam sagittis, vel aliquet libero ultrices. Sed enim justo, convallis id pellentesque nec, ullamcorper sit amet elit.

A total of … screenings in … US states generated … scholarships for underprivileged girls in Turkey.

Read more here. 

Coming soon in 2024: Feyza’nın Mutfağı (Feyza’s Kitchen) by Jale İncekol

Join Cinema4ACause: Organize a screening in your community

While you enjoy hosting events for a worthy cause, our dedicated team will stand by your side, ready to provide support for technical issues. Are you curious about the kind of assistance you can expect when partnering with us to organize an event? 

Here is how we can support you:

Custom donation pages and ticket sale platforms: Our team can develop dedicated donation pages or ticket sale platforms for your events. These customized platforms facilitate the donation and ticketing process, providing attendees with a user-friendly experience.

Social media promotion: Utilizing our extensive social media channels, we actively promote your events to reach a broader audience. We aim to generate excitement, engage the local community, and boost event attendance and support.

Event branding and content design: Collaborating with your team, we support designing compelling visuals and crafting persuasive verbal content for your events. We aim to create an impactful branding strategy that effectively communicates your cause.

Acknowledgment of supporters: We highly value the individuals who attend or contribute to your events. We commit to ensuring that all supporters are recognized and appreciated, fostering a sense of community and gratitude.

Impact reporting: Transparency is of utmost importance to us. Following your event, we provide comprehensive impact reports that detail how the funds raised have been utilized in BTF’s projects. These reports offer clear insights into the tangible difference your event has made in the lives of children and communities.