Alberto Manguel’s Journey to Turkey: In the Footsteps of Tanpınar

As part of the MARUF25 program, a special screening parallel to the Urban Cinema program will take place in collaboration with Yapı Kredi Publications, the program partner of the Urban Library. Following its first screening at The Yapı Kredi Culture Centre in June 2025, Alberto Manguel’s Journey to Turkey: In the Footsteps of Tanpınar now meets a wider audience. The documentary is based on the observations of the renowned, multifaceted writer Alberto Manguel, who was invited to Türkiye in 2013 for the Istanbul Tanpınar Literature Festival (İTEF). During this visit, Manguel traveled to Istanbul, Erzurum, Konya, Ankara, and Bursa to write his book “In the Footsteps of Tanpınar: Five Cities”. The film captures this journey, offering a portrait of both the author’s personal encounter with Türkiye and his literary exploration. The production, which began in 2013 under the direction of Didem Şahin, was later completed by director Melik Külekci after Şahin’s passing. Külekci will also join the screening for a brief conversation with the audience.