The Dry Period

Runtime: 80'

Expected release: May 2026

Production stage: Early Production

Budget: €237,675 (39% in place)

1st feature: Yes

Looking for: Co-Producers, Financing, Distributors

Synopsis:

Alime and Refik, the youngest couple in their nearly abandoned village, long for a child but face years of pressure over their infertility. To cope, they isolate themselves from conservative society, creating a bizarre world with their cows. As their pregnant cow enters the dry period, Alime, bearing the blame, experiences phantom pregnancy signs. During labor, hidden in the dark, they confront their pain and buried resentments — until the birth momentarily restores their fragile world.

Director’s Profile:

Nihal Atasoy was born in Trabzon in 2000. In 2024, she graduated from Akdeniz University, Department of Cinema and Television. Nihal, who expanded her sectoral experiences as well as her cinema education during her university years, stepped into her directing career with her first short film in 2020. After that Nihal started to work at documentary filmmaking, especially focusing on women’s stories. Her first short documentary, Fire of Novruz made its national premiere at Directed by Women Turkey, Istanbul 2024.

Producer’s Profile:

Emre Yalgın completed his undergraduate studies in METU’s Philosophy department and his graduate studies in Bilkent’s Graphic Design department. After completing his education, he started working in the film industry. He directed documentary Pink Grey in 2008 which won national awards at film festivals. Afterwards he directed the feature film Other Angels. The film was screened in various national and international film festivals and won awards. He directed his second feature Turnout in 2013. In 2015 he established Tunnel Pictures and produced crime-action box office movie Trust in 2016. In 2020, his fantastic novel Blood and Moon was published by Artemis Publications. He worked as a communication consultant in the World Health Organization in 2021. He lectured at various universities about filmmaking and script writing. He is still running Tunnel Pictures and producing documentaries and features.

Selin Üner was born in 1983 in Samsun, Turkey. She started her primary education in Izmir and continued at Ankara Arı College. She pursued her studies in International Trade at Çankaya University and later studied Radio Television and Cinema at Istanbul University. Selin Üner also received advertising training at Bahçeşehir University’s Advertising Writing Camp. Since her university years, she has been working at her family’s company called Zes Production.