Turkish actor Serenay Sarikaya faces backlash for jury role at film festival

The Altin Koza Film Festival, one of Türkiye’s most prestigious cinema events, recently hosted its 31st edition in Adana.

While the festival celebrated Turkish cinema, attention shifted away from the films and onto Serenay Sarikaya.

Known for her TV roles and public presence, Sarikaya served as a jury member.

However, the Turkish actor‘s appearance and personal life attracted more attention than the festival’s award-winning films, drawing both praise and criticism.

Attention surrounding Serenay Sarikaya overshadowed Turkish festival’s awards

Sarikaya‘s red carpet appearance, featuring her new hairstyle and elegant dress, became the most talked-about aspect of the festival.

Fans and social media users admired her style, praising her appearance more than the films being showcased.

Sen, however, voiced his frustration with the situation. “Is this a film festival or a fashion event?” he asked, noting how social media seemed more focused on Sarikaya’s look than on the films.

Sen expressed his concerns, saying, “The films that won awards barely received any attention. Instead, everyone was fixated on Serenay Sarikaya’s hair and the dance she performed at the festival party.”

He criticized the imbalance, arguing that the festival’s purpose – to celebrate cinema – was being overlooked.

Critics question Serenay Sarikaya’s role as jury member

Although Sarikaya hasn’t appeared in a feature film since 2016, her selection as a jury member raised eyebrows. Sen pointed out that her fame allowed her to hold a significant position at the festival, despite her recent focus on TV series.

“Serenay Sarikaya isn’t a bad actor, and her beauty naturally attracts attention, just like Turkan Soray in her time. But there’s a problem when mainstream actors, who can’t get their films into festivals, enter only through their celebrity status,” Sen said, expressing concern over the growing trend.

Turkish award-winning films take backseat to celebrity buzz

While the Altin Koza Film Festival honored talented filmmakers, including Ahmet Rifat Sungar, who won the “Best Actor” award, the discussions were largely dominated by Sarikaya’s appearance and personal life.

Social media platforms flooded with admiration, with comments like, “You’re the true star of the night.”

However, this shift in focus left some wondering if festivals like Altin Koza were losing sight of their purpose – celebrating and promoting films and cinema.

The attention Sarikaya received, although understandable given her status, raised important questions about the evolving nature of film festivals and whether celebrity culture is diluting the recognition of cinematic achievements.