Festival Director

Zuhal Kavak is a Turkish lawyer, legal operations manager, and arts & social advocate whose career bridges law, culture, and community engagement. Her dedication to theatre and the arts began in her early school years and evolved through active involvement in stage performance, improvisation, and cultural projects.

After earning her law degree, she practiced for over fifteen years in Turkey, specializing in contract and international commercial law, while also supporting artists and cultural organizations as a volunteer legal advisor.

During her studies, she joined the Tiyatromuz Theatre Company, gaining extensive experience as both an actor and assistant director. She contributed to the Antalya Golden Orange International Film Festival for three consecutive terms and participated in numerous European Union–funded art and culture programs across Europe.

Now based in Vancouver, she serves as a Legal Operations Manager at a Canadian technology company and, since 2023, as a board member of the Turkish-Canadian Society, where she helps lead cultural and community initiatives. She has also been part of the festival committee since 2023 and the Festival Director of the Vancouver Turkish Film Festival since 2024. Combining her legal expertise and artistic vision, Zuhal continues to foster meaningful cultural exchange and appreciation for the arts in Canada.