Istanbul United

Authors/Directors:  Farid Eslam, Olli Waldhauer
Protagonists: Can Atalaya, Cahit Binici, Ayan Güner, Kerem Gürbüz and others 
Producers: Nippes Yard Productions, Mind Riot Media
Co-Producers: Port au Prince Film & Kultur Produktion, Pixiu Film, Taskovski Film, VOX Pictures
German Distribution: Port au Prince Pictures

For years now, the “Ultra” fans of Istanbul’s three most important soccer clubs Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş are known the world over for the unconditional support of their teams. Their mutual rivalry often descends into extremely violent altercations with numerous injuries and even deaths. Yet in the summer of 2013, something extraordinary happened: During the Gezi Park protests and clashes against the Turkish government and prime minister Erdogan, the competing supporters’ clubs united for the first time behind a common cause. People notorious for their mutual hatred now stood side by side as “Istanbul United” to fight the Turkish ruling class.