Interview With Award Winning Turkish Writer Director Hakan
Unal @ 20th Annual BIFF
During the 2025 Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), I sat with award-winning Turkish writer producer Hakan Unal at the King's Surf Shack on Harbour Island. We spoke about his short films that have been awarded at multiple international film festivals around the world and his recent acceptance to the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
BIFF is a boutique film festival of the highest standard, where film talent from all over the world gathers in paradise for a week every December for screenings, panels, writer workshops and networking, where industry professionals get the chance to really get to know each other, and facilitate many projects to move forward. This was the festival's 20th anniversary.
About Hakan Ünal:
Independent filmmaker Hakan Ünal is a native of Turkey and has worked for past 8 years as a writer/director. After graduating the university, filmmaking became the overpowering passion in his life. He wrote short stories. His debut short film 'Orange' participated in over 30 festivals and won 15 awards. His second short film project entitled 'Crack in the Wall' was selected to Cinephilia Shorts Lab in 2017. The same project won first place at the 13th Cyprus International Film Festival. Crack in the Wall made its world premiere at the 15th Reykjavik International Film Festival and participated more than 20 festivals. Ünal was selected to the Reykjavik Talents in 2018. His third short film project entitled 'Rabbit Still Hiding' was selected to the 6th Drama Pitching Forum at the 42nd Drama International Film Festival and to the Undeveloped Global Short Lab Pitching Forum at the 10th Oaxaca International Film Festival. He is currently working on his feature debut 'Metamorphosis' which was short listed at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019 and has recently been selected for the 2026 Sundance Lab.
Interview by Vanessa McMahon
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