Tunç Akkoç / Producer
For Ash and Salt, we embarked on a challenging journey in terms of the entire production process. The footage is being shot by journalists living in Palestine, thousands of kilometers away from Istanbul. For Mahmoud, a Palestinian journalist striving to document these moments under intense Israeli attacks, this documentary represents both a struggle for his homeland and a personal risk to his life.Even the transfer of video files to us and the uninterrupted sharing of production notes are extremely difficult due to the region’s inadequate internet infrastructure. Naturally, in the Gaza Strip, where war is a constant reality, remaining psychologically strong and maintaining consistency during filming is one of the most demanding aspects of this documentary process.Ash and Salt does not only reflect the experiences of the people in that land. It also mirrors the existential deadlocks facing all of humanity.
Çağatay Yurt /DIrector
By the end of our very first conversation with our journalist friend living in Palestine, it was already clear what Ashes and Salt would be about. Under the sound of bombs, breathing in the smell of gunpowder, and constantly facing the threat of death, a journalist insisted on continuing his work. When the first footage was completed, it took three days to reach us, footage that, under normal circumstances, in a region with better conditions, would have been shared within minutes. The struggle of the people in Palestine to hold on to life made the existential crisis of the “modern individual” feel trivial in my eyes. This documentary will not only tell the story of those living through tragedy in Palestine, but will also serve as a source of inspiration for others who live in peace.
Mahmoud Rostom / Storyteller
Palestine is a land under siege, not only geographically, but also in terms of truth. Working under Israeli attacks is not just a physical challenge, but a psychological one as well. With power outages, restricted internet access, and constant threats, delivering footage to the world becomes nearly impossible. Sometimes, we wait for hours just to send a one-minute video. Other times, what we manage to capture disappears under the shadow of bombs. But this documentary is a scream that breaks the silence. It tells the stories buried beneath the rubble, our losses, our resistance. It carries to the screen the tears of children, the prayers of mothers, and the final words of those who take their last breath in hospital beds. Ash and Salt is not just a documentary. For us, it is a testimony. A tool of resistance. While it reveals the raw truth of this land, it also speaks to the shared conscience of humanity. Because what is happening here is not just the story of Gaza, it is the story of all of us.