The Tree of Eternity: The Yırca Resistance (Ölmez Ağaç: Yırca Direnişi) by Kazim Kizil

Validebağ Resistance (Validebağ Direnişi) by Hakan Tosun

All around the world today, we’re witnessing moments of resistance which inspire. Resistance stands for respect for life. In this compilation, we’re delighted to present two moments of resistance from last year- from Yırca and Validebağ. The Tree of Eternity: The Yırca Resistance brings us the voices of the villagers from Soma, Yırca after they’ve woken up one morning to find bulldozers razing down their hundreds of years old trees. As they speak of their broken hearts, and the days when they rose to protect their trees, they’re also reminding us of our ancient wisdom about the will to live and let live. The documentary on the Validebağ Resistance is the story of 35 days of resistance in the Uskudar district of Istanbul. We’re invited to witness the will power, the concerns and the dedication of those who put up a fight for a green area that risked being demolished to build a mosque. In tents and on the street, with women in the foreground, activists have shown Validebag’s public green spaces are precious. We’re hoping that these two moments from recent history will bring you inspiration and hope.