Burning Days (Kurak Günler)

Burning Days (Kurak Günler) is a 2022 drama and mystery thriller written and directed by Emin Alper, produced as a co-production between Turkey, France, and Germany. The film had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Queer Palm, before its Turkish premiere at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival in October 2022.

Emre, a young and idealistic prosecutor, is assigned to the small town of Yanıklar, where a ban on groundwater use has created serious tension. Mayor Selim pushes a project to pipe water into town while facing opposition from local newspaper owner Murat. Trying to stay neutral ahead of local elections, Emre becomes trapped in a vicious circle of corruption and environmental scandal. The film won nine awards at the 59th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, including Best Director, and received the Best Editor award at the European Film Awards.