Lycian Way International Film Festival (1)

Festival start: 11 September 2026      Festival end: 13 September 2026

The Lycian Way International Film Festival is an independent film event open to national and international short and feature-length films of any genre (including animation and experimental films) related to the theme of "the road".

Held over three days, the festival hosts film screenings alongside seminars, director meet-ups, and open-air events. All activities are free and open to the public.

Inspired by the ancient lands of Lycia, the deep blue of the Mediterranean, and the unique harmony of history and nature along the Lycian Way, the festival carries the universal language of cinema from Antalya to the world.

As the first thematic film festival in Türkiye to focus on the concept of “the road,” the Lycian Way International Film Festival brings together not only cinephiles but also hikers, travelers, historians, and cultural producers.

The festival aims to reinterpret the historical, cultural, and geographical richness of the Lycian Way—an ancient route that has connected civilizations for centuries—through the lens of cinema. It showcases films built around themes such as migration, journey, endurance, nature, cultural heritage, and sports.

The festival also seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among young filmmakers, hikers, historians, and art enthusiasts, making visible the intricate connections between road, migration, and culture through the medium of film.

Best National Short Film Award

Best National Feature Award

Best International Short Film Award

Best Student Film Award

Best International Feature Award

APPLICATION AND PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS

1. Eligibility
The Lycian Way International Film Festival is open to national and international short and feature-length films (including animation and experimental films) in any genre related to the theme of the "road".

Films may address themes such as journey, migration, endurance, nature, cultural heritage, and sports.

Films submitted must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

2. Categories

National Short Film Competition

International Short Film Competition

National Feature Film Competition

International Feature Film Competition

Best Student Film Competition

3. Duration
Short films must be a maximum of 25 minutes.
Feature-length films must be a maximum of 70 minutes.

4. Submission Format
Films are accepted only through the Festhome platform.

A downloadable viewing link (Vimeo, YouTube, etc.) with English subtitles must be provided during the application.

The final screening copy of selected films must be delivered in Full HD (1080p) format.

5. Subtitles
All films must have English subtitles.

Turkish films must include English subtitles.

Films in foreign languages must include Turkish or English subtitles.

6. Selection and Notification
Selected films will be announced on August 27, 2026, on the official website: www.likyaff.com.

The festival management reserves the right to schedule the selected films in sections it deems appropriate.

7. Screenings
Screenings will take place in Antalya over three days, with three sessions per day.

All screenings and public events are free of charge and open to all audiences.

8. Rights and Permissions
By submitting, filmmakers are deemed to have granted permission for the festival to use short excerpts, images, and press materials from the film for promotional purposes (non-commercial).

Filmmakers retain all copyright and ownership rights to their work.

9. Travel and Participation
The festival encourages the participation of directors and crew members. Limited accommodation or transportation support may be provided depending on available budget resources.

10. Jury and Awards
The festival jury reserves the right not to award a prize in any category if they deem it inappropriate.

The decisions of the jury are final.

11. Responsibility and Declaration
The applicant declares that they hold all copyrights for the film or have obtained all necessary permissions.

All legal responsibility for music, archival footage, visual materials, and other third-party content used in the film belongs to the applicant.

If false declaration, copyright infringement, or legal dispute is detected, the festival reserves the right to remove the film from the program and revoke any awarded prize.

12. Acceptance of Rules
Submitting a film to the Lycian Way International Film Festival implies full acceptance of these application and participation conditions.

The festival reserves the right to make necessary changes to the program and regulations.

Depending on the number and nature of applications, the festival management reserves the right not to open, to merge, or to cancel certain categories.

Applications and application fees are non-refundable.