Dying to Divorce

Working with a group of activists, Ipek is fighting to get justice for two survivors of horrific violence - Arzu, married off at 14 to a farmer ten years her senior and Kubra, a successful and glamorous TV presenter. From very different backgrounds, both were lucky to survive the attacks by their partners.

Filmed over 5 years, Dying To Divorce takes viewers into the heart of Turkey's gender-based violence crisis and the recent political events that have severely eroded democratic freedoms. Through intimately shot personal stories, the film gives a unique perspective on the struggle to be an independent woman in modern Turkey.

Winner of The Jury Prize at Monte Carlo and The Amnesty International Prize at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

“Dying to Divorce…shows the specific developments in Turkish society which shows the social and political developments which mean that femicide is currently a specific problem within Turkey (clue: it has nothing to do with Islam). On the other, it makes clear that this is a threat that affects us all and is intrinsic to all societies which treat women as second-class citizens. Wholeheartedly recommended.” - CinePhil, A Berliner Film Blog