Eylem hails from Istanbul, Turkey where she worked as an advertising manager at CNBC TV and HEARST Magazine Group for several years. Her incessant passion for cinema compelled her to relocate to Vancouver in 2002, where she was awarded a full scholarship to join the film production program of Vancouver Film School. Upon graduation, she landed her first job on the Hollywood blockbuster of the 3rd X MEN as visual effects assistant. She then continued her prolific career on American film productions such as Possession, Frankie and Alice, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, Underworld: Awakening, and Seventh Son. She is a member of the Local Film Union IATSE 891 as Production Coordinator.
She has been organizing the Vancouver Turkish Film Festival since 2011. She is also holding a volunteer position at the Turkish Canadian Society and BC Children’s Hospital.

Eli was born in Istanbul. He has worked on numerous national and international film projects over a decade. He graduated from SAE Sound Engineering School with honours. He received his Master’s Degree on Sound Technologies from Bahcesehir University, where he wrote his thesis on “The Affects of Dolby Atmos Sound Technologies for Sound Design of the Turkish Cinema”. Now he lives in Vancouver and studies Digital Music Production. He is a professional member of Vancouver Post Alliance. He worked on films that screened at well-known international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Montreal, Karlovy Vary, Sarajevo, SXSW and Sitges International Film Festival.

In addition to film, Eli is also interested in social and environmental issues. He is a member of many human rights and environmental organizations. He has several articles and interviews published about climate change, nuclear energy, antisemitism and social conflict.

Born in Kocaeli, Işıl graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Political Sciences. After working in the finance sector for 5 years, she moved from Istanbul to Vancouver in 2021 to study MBA. She continues her career in the finance sector in Vancouver. She has taken part in many non-governmental organizations from past to present, and as of 2023, she has been a volunteer in the Turkish Canadian Association as Treasurer. Işıl has always been interested in cinema and is very excited to be part of the VTFF organizing committee.

Begum Kabatas was born in Istanbul in 1986. After completing her degree in Philosophy at Istanbul University, she pursued a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications at San Francisco Golden Gate University. She dedicated approximately a decade to the Istanbul Municipality City Theaters as a professional performer. Her professional career took a different turn as she embarked on the path of client relations in various advertising agencies, eventually advancing into management roles.

Most recently, after working for about two years in the advertising team at Turk Telekom, she, along with her husband and daughter, has been residing in Victoria, British Columbia for the past six years. In addition to her involvement on the TCS Vancouver Board of Directors, she continues her professional journey as a Senior Strategy Manager at TELUS Digital.

As a lifelong film-fanatic, it is Sina’s pleasure to be a part of the organization of this years festival. Born and raised in Ankara and coming to Canada after 13 years of living in Dubai, Sina worked in the IT industry his whole life, with a Master of Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. With an extremely international career, Sina knows how vital it is to be able to celebrate diversity and art. Now happily retired, he spends his time focusing on his social responsibility and is proud to be part of VTFF Organizing Committee and be able to contribute to this important cultural event.