25/11/2025
The Uyghurs, a people from East Turkestan, carry a centuries-old culture. Today, however, millions are experiencing systematic oppression. Language, religion, and traditions are being pushed aside, while fear and control define daily life.
For many, only exile remains. Places like Istanbul, home to the largest Uyghur diaspora, become centers of arrival and preservation. Culture there is not simply conserved but carried forward as something living, as quiet resistance and an expression of resilience.
Our documentary project is dedicated to the voices, life stories, and memories of those in exile. It shows how cultural identity endures far from home, upheld by community.
In 2022, we were already able to accompany Gülzire in Munich. To this day, she misses her sister and her parents, who are believed to be held in Chinese internment camps. Against The Silence (directed by Martina Chamrad) had an impressive festival tour, screened at two Oscar-qualifying festivals, and brought international visibility.
Yet in light of Chinese policies, it remains just a drop in the ocean. The long arm of China was noticeable throughout the filming. The urgency of the new documentary arises from the systematic suppression of culture, religion, and people. With our films, we want to make visible, to return voice and dignity to the Uyghur community, and to build a bridge toward intercultural understanding.
Here you can see the first photos and some BTS from the production. We are currently in post-production — stay tuned. ✨
Director: .ahmetoglu & .heinemann
Production: .de, .ufuk
Director of Photography:
Photographer:
Editor:
Music:
Sounddesign: .io
Translation: Mukaddes Ali, Mihriban Ada
