The Porters of Mount Ararat
August 2025 - Februray 2026
Ağrı, Iğdır, Kars
This project focuses on the lives and environmental issues of the mule porters, field guides, and mountain people who provide logistical support on Mount Ararat. Mount Ararat, legendary and known as the holiest mountain in the world, is the highest peak in Turkey and Europe at 5,137 metres. Thousands of mountaineers from all over the world dream of seeing this summit. The biggest role in realising this dream is played by these “unseen heroes” who remain in the shadow of the mountain. They are “silent heroes”, lacking social security, adequate training and equipment, and receiving no support from local professional authorities, just like the Sherpas of Everest. What is their social life like? Do they plan to continue this profession, inherited from their ancestors? Does this sacred mountain offer a future for their children? Is their solitary struggle for a sustainable environment and tourism on the mountain enough? In this context, this documentary aims to comprehensively address this issue for the first time in Turkey, turning its lens not on those who climb the mountain, but on the lives of these people who work tirelessly to help them reach the summit. The Porters of Mount Ararat project will explore these questions and issues.
Mehmet Mukadder Yardımcıel
He studied Radio, TV and Cinema at Ankara University's Faculty of Communication, and then studied Sociology and English Language and Literature. He completed his Master's Degree in Tourist Guiding at Istanbul Gelişim University. He completed his Master's Degree coursework in Kurdish Language and Literature, Sociology, and Economics. He is currently pursuing his Master's Degree in English Language and Literature at Kafkas University. He worked as a journalist for 13 years in newspapers and television. Between 2011 and 2023, he worked as the Press and Public Relations Officer at Serhat Development Agency, which operates in the provinces of Kars, Ağrı, Ardahan, and Iğdır. He worked as a photographer in the Tourism Routes project prepared for these provinces. He has realized 6 documentary projects focusing on the historical and touristic sites as well as the social and cultural life of four cities. The projects he worked on as a project coordinator and cameraman are: On the Trail of the Kazın, Journey to Mount Ararat, 11 Women 1 Kars, Sazın Poets Serhat's Lovers, Kars Gruyere, Caucasian Bee. He has organized 4 photo safaris and 7 short film competitions. Badge Tourist Guide, Mountaineer, Photographer and Documentary Filmmaker. Lives in Kars, a city where time flows so slowly.
This page is published on 11 September 2025.
