Turkey has chosen its official entry for the 99th Academy Awards. The Turkish Oscar Selection Committee selected “Kesilmiş Bir Ağaç Gibi” (Like a Limbless Tree) to represent the country in the Best International Feature Film category. The film, directed by Tunç Davut, was picked from 17 competing productions. The announcement came on July 31, 2026. The movie will compete for Turkey’s first-ever Oscar win in this category. Turkey has only made the shortlist once before, in 2008 with Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “Three Monkeys”.
The Selection Process and Committee Decision
The Turkish Oscar Selection Committee, made up of representatives from various film industry professional organizations, evaluated 17 films before choosing “Like a Limbless Tree”. The committee includes members from groups such as SİNEBİR, SİYAD, and other cinema associations. The film received support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and is a TRT co-production. The submission deadline for all countries in the International Feature Film category is September 30, 2026. A shortlist of 15 films will be announced on December 15, 2026. The official Oscar nominees will be revealed on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027.
What ‘Like a Limbless Tree’ Is About
“Like a Limbless Tree” is an intimate social drama that deals with family ties, immigration, and personal reckoning. The story follows Refik, a 70-year-old retired engineer who is diagnosed with a terminal illness. As Eid approaches, he wants to spend the holiday with his children. Refik gives money to his Syrian caregiver Nesrin so she can flee to Europe with her two young sons. But Nesrin disappears, leaving her children behind with Refik. This event changes Refik’s life forever.
The family drama intensifies when Refik’s children come home for the holiday. His son İhsan, a failed dairy products trader, asks his father for money to start a cattle farm. His daughter Nalan, who left her academic career behind to settle in Germany, returns after a long absence. These family tensions and personal conflicts create the core of the film. The movie explores themes of belonging, displacement, and the search for meaning in difficult times.
Director Tunç Davut described the film in his director’s statement:
“Refik searches for a form of atonement he cannot fully understand. His acts of kindness may be sincere, but they are also attempts to reconcile himself with the person he has become.”
Cast and Crew
Tunç Davut directs the film. His previous work includes the 2015 drama “Entanglement” and TV series “Serçe” and “Kınalı Kuzular”. The screenplay was written by Sinem Altındağ and Tunç Davut. Sinem Altındağ also produces the film through Istanbul-based Tekhne Film. The film is a co-production with Serbian company NANA 143.
The main cast includes:
- Ali İpin as Refik
- Feyyaz Duman
- Selen Kurtaran
Other cast members include Dilan Düzgüner, Ceren Taşçı, Ahmed Esmer, Baran Can Eraslan, Nasreddin Meshed, and Ahmet el-Ali.
Festival Run and Early Recognition
“Like a Limbless Tree” had its world premiere in October 2025 at the 62nd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. The film was shot in various locations in the Tarsus district of Mersin. It also screened at the 13th Bosphorus Film Festival and the 36th Ankara Film Festival. At the Bosphorus Film Festival, the movie won the Best Editing Award.
During its development phase, the project won the 12 Punto TRT Co-Production Award in 2019. The film was also selected for the Berlinale Talents Project Market and the CineLink Co-Production Market in Sarajevo.
Controversy Surrounding the Selection
The choice of “Like a Limbless Tree” has sparked some debate in Turkey’s film community. Critics have pointed out that the film had limited festival success compared to other Turkish films that won multiple awards this year. The film’s only major award is the Best Editing prize from the Bosphorus Film Festival.
A key point of discussion is that director Tunç Davut serves as the chairman of SİNEBİR, one of the organizations represented on the selection committee. This has raised questions about the neutrality of the selection process. The film being a TRT co-production has also been noted as a factor in the debate.
Turkey has been submitting films to the Oscars since 1964, with a total of 33 submissions so far. The country has never received a nomination in this category, though “Three Monkeys” made the shortlist in 2008.
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What This Means for Turkey’s Oscar Campaign
“Like a Limbless Tree” enters the race along with submissions from other countries. Under new rules, Turkish director Ilker Çatak’s political drama “Yellow Letters” will also qualify for the Oscars because it won this year’s Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear. The international feature race is expected to be competitive. Turkey will be hoping to break its long-standing nomination drought. The film’s focus on immigration and family conflict gives it themes that could resonate with international audiences. The coming months will determine if “Like a Limbless Tree” can make it past the shortlist stage and secure Turkey’s first-ever Oscar nomination in this category.
Also Read: Marco Cavazzin’s Short Film ‘Mutrion’ Wins Best Director Award at Locarno Film Festival 2026
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