The International Istanbul Puppet Festival, organized in collaboration with the Istanbul Karagöz Puppet Foundation and Show Production, is in its 26th year this year.
The festival, under the artistic directorship of Cengiz Özek, has taken important steps towards the popularization and spread of puppetry in Turkey, as well as the transfer of our traditional stage art Karagöz, which UNESCO has declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, to future generations. Perhaps the most important of these steps is the Istanbul Karagöz Puppet Foundation, founded by Cengiz Özek.
Our festival, which has brought more than 200 shows from all over the world to our country to date and brought together some of the most distinguished examples of puppetry in both traditional and modern terms with art lovers, is opening its curtains with special plays again this year.
The main venues of our festival this year have been determined as Akbank Sanat and Turşucuzade Konağı Sibyan Mektebi. The events, which will take place between October 30 and November 3, will include plays, workshops, exhibitions and talks.
Kind regards
Cengiz Özek
Festival Director