Women's labor in film festivals in Türkiye

This article examines women's labor within the management and various departments of four long-established film festivals that have shaped the national cinema canon in Türkiye. It explores the gender distribution across curatorial, administrative and labor-intensive roles through a sectoral analysis of festival organizations. Adopting a historical perspective, the study traces changes in women's participation in festival operations and leadership over time. A total of 133 festival catalogs were reviewed, and interviews were conducted, both in person and online, with 10 female festival managers and employees. In contrast, in other festivals, their roles have typically been limited to operational positions rather than decision-making roles. Notably, the management of film funds by women in the past decade stands out as a significant contribution to the sector. However, gender disparities in the broader Turkish film industry are mirrored within festival structures.