Int’l Istanbul Puppet Festival kicks off

The opening of the 26th International Istanbul Puppet Festival, featuring 11 different performances from six countries this year, was held at Turşucuzade Mansion Sıbyan School.

Cengiz Özek, the festival's art director, said that the festival was born out of the intense interest they encountered during previous international Karagöz performances.

Özek noted that Karagöz is far more widely known globally than in Türkiye, saying, "We see great interest in Karagöz at festivals. Puppet artists know of Karagöz, but they have rarely seen it performed. We are self-taught, while they formally study the craft. Karagöz was a well-known figure not only in Türkiye but also throughout the Ottoman regions, from the Balkans to North Africa. Such a far-reaching art form also sparks curiosity. When we noticed this interest, we decided to organize a festival in Türkiye, and in 1998, we held the first one."

Özek noted that they set a new theme each year for the festival, but this year, due to financial conditions and adverse events like ongoing wars, they opted for a simpler format.

Explaining that he was supposed to perform in Jerusalem last year but couldn't go, Özek added, "We hoped the war would end, but it hasn't. Unfortunately, these wars are happening in places where Karagöz traditionally connects with people. With war, both Karagöz and those who know about it are disappearing. The knowledgeable elders who could pass down this culture are vanishing. In Lebanon, where war rages, Karagöz performances continued into the 21st century, but now, that culture and heritage are on the verge of becoming history."

Özek stated that "string puppetry" has not developed much in Türkiye, explaining, "Here, puppets are still operated with six strings, while...