I Was, I Am, I Will Be

After a Kurdish gigolo and an airline pilot meet at a Turkish resort, their lives change in unexpected ways. Given the opportunity to study and work in Germany, Baran moves from a troubled past to a complicated present, with the prospect of a promising future not far from his grasp. Meanwhile, his mentor, Marion, bravely confronts unanticipated challenges. In his second feature, director-co-writer Ilker Çatak, a former Student Oscar® winner, boldly challenges stereotypes and expectations to create a touching humanist drama. – Alissa Simon