Rıfkı and Other Disasters
October 2026 - April 2027
MANİSA
Rıfkı and Other Disasters tells the story of a sex worker whose life is shaped by social stigma and a weary fighting rooster struggling to survive amid displays of masculinity and power. Coming from entirely different worlds, these two characters find themselves drawn into an unexpected form of solidarity through a series of unforeseen encounters.
As they struggle against the roles imposed on them by society, their lives intersect around shared experiences of loneliness, loss and the struggle for survival. Gradually, they begin to occupy unexpected places in each other's lives. Although seemingly worlds apart, their experiences become connected through shared vulnerabilities and a common desire for freedom.
Blending social realism with dark comedy, the film explores the contradictions of a social order that categorises individuals according to their social status, gender roles and moral judgements. In a world where power relations permeate even the most ordinary moments of everyday life, survival sometimes means resisting imposed roles and, at other times, finding support in the presence of another.
Through the possibilities of dark comedy, Rıfkı and Other Disasters portrays the struggle for survival and mutual support among characters pushed to the margins of society. The film explores how solidarity can emerge from the most unexpected encounters and how human relationships have the power to challenge deeply rooted social prejudices.
Soner Sert
The director completed his undergraduate studies in the Department of Cinema and Television at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Marmara University, followed by a master's degree and a PhD in Film Design at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Dokuz Eylül University.
He has written and directed the short films Köprü (2012), Baba (2014), Ses (2015) and Hastabakıcı (2017), as well as the feature films Acı Kahve (2024) and Annem Hakkında (2026). He also produced Tavuk Suyuna Çorba (2024), written and directed by Deniz Büyükkırlı.
His films have been selected for competition at nearly 400 international film festivals and have received more than 60 awards.
He is also the author of several books on cinema, including Yönetmenler İlk Filmini Anlatıyor (2018), Duvar (2018), Devletsiz Bir Ulusun Sineması (2019), Sinemanın Teorisi (2021, editor), Bir Sağır Zangoç (2023) and Sinemanın Felsefesi (2025, editor).
He has worked as a lecturer in cinema at various academic and civil society institutions.