Winner of 16 Awards & International Festival Recognition
Cinema4aCause proudly presents the award-winning film Empire of the Rabbits (Tavşan İmparatorluğu), directed by Seyfettin Tokmak.
As Bridge to Türkiye Fund’s film screening initiative, Cinema4aCause uses the power of film to bring people together in support of educational opportunity. Through these events, we have funded more than 700 one-year scholarships for students in Türkiye. We invite our supporters and community leaders to organize a screening in their area and help expand this impact.
About the Film
Praised for its realism, symbolism, powerful performances, and poetic storytelling, Empire of the Rabbits explores childhood, resistance, and the systems that shape our lives. At once intimate and allegorical, the film reflects on poverty, exploitation, and the quiet forms of resistance that emerge through imagination and friendship.
Watch the trailer here.
Türkiye / Mexico / Croatia • 2025 • 95 min • DCP • Color
Language: Turkish
Subtitles: Turkish, English
Synopsis
Musa, a twelve-year-old boy, lives with his father Beko in Keban, a small town in eastern Türkiye. Beko earns money through illegal greyhound races, where wild rabbits are used as bait. When he discovers he can obtain a government salary if Musa is declared disabled, he forces his son to pretend to be disabled.
Musa is taken to a rehabilitation center, where he must imitate disability in order to receive the report. Meanwhile, he secretly rescues rabbits from traps and races. Together with his friend Nergis, he creates an imaginary refuge inside an abandoned mine called the Rabbit Empire. In this fragile world of imagination, the children begin a dangerous struggle to free both the rabbits and themselves.
About the Director
Seyfettin Tokmak is a Turkish director and cinematographer. His debut feature, Broken Mussels (2011), won the Arte Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival. He has also directed documentaries including Dream Gang (2010), Orient Express (2011), and The History of Turkish Arabesque Music (2022). In addition to his filmmaking, Tokmak has worked with the UN International Organization for Migration, supporting child refugees and organizing filmmaking workshops in juvenile detention centers. He currently teaches at Yeditepe University Faculty of Communication.
Winner of 16 Awards & International Festival Recognition
Empire of the Rabbits has already earned major recognition, including:
- Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival — Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography
- Taipei Film Festival — Taiwan Directors Guild Award, Best Film
- Shanghai International Film Festival — Official Selection
Guadalajara International Film Festival — International Panorama - Bosphorus Film Festival — Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Producer
- Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival — Best Film, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Director of Photography, Best Supporting Actor
- Ankara International Film Festival — Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director
Screening Schedule and Locations
- Chicago, USA | May 1, 2026 @ 5:00 PM – [Ticket Link]
This list will be continually updated. Keep an eye on the schedule and subscribe to our newsletter for the most up-to-date information!
Organize a Screening in Your Community
Interested in organizing a screening of Empire of the Rabbits in your area?
A Cinema4aCause screening is a meaningful way to bring people together around powerful storytelling while supporting Bridge to Türkiye Fund’s work.
Our team will prepare your ticket link, provide a BTF media kit with digital materials, and help promote your screening through announcements on social media. It’s a great way to engage your community, spark conversation, and turn a film screening into meaningful support for BTF’s mission.
To learn more about hosting a screening, contact us at [info@bridgetoturkiye.org].
