Maltepe: Women of Our Neighbourhood Make Movies (TR: Mahallemizin Kadınları Sinema Yapıyor)

“Women of Our Neighborhood Make Movies" enabled disadvantaged women in Maltepe—a diverse, multi-layered district of half a million in Istanbul—to make their voices heard through cinema. Although these women possess rich everyday life experiences, they often lacked access to creative tools and remained largely "spectators" in cultural activities.

Implemented by Maltepe Municipality, the project aimed to shift cultural production from a centralized model to the neighborhood level, transforming women into active cultural producers. The process began with open calls in local neighborhoods to include women with limited access to cultural production. Over a 6–7 month program, participants received training in scriptwriting, basic camera techniques, sound recording, and editing.

After completing the training, women formed teams and, with technical mentorship, took charge behind the camera to produce short films and documentaries reflecting the stories of their neighborhoods, including works such as "Residents on Bryas Floor" and "A Poster". Entirely shaped by women's labor, these productions were screened at municipal cultural centers and open-air neighborhood spaces, reaching thousands of viewers.

By gaining visibility in public spaces and expressing that "Cinema did us good," participants challenged local prejudices and reflected social issues through the support of local governance. The project transformed filmmaking from mere artistic training into a tool for social participation and women's empowerment, democratizing an art form once monopolized by professionals.

By integrating gender equality and local memory preservation into cultural policy, this model—built on low-cost design, neighborhood-based participation, and efficient use of existing public resources such as cultural centers and equipment—provides a sustainable and replicable example of participatory democracy. Its structure allows other cities to implement similar programs, creating an enduring, inclusive platform where women's voices can actively shape public and cultural life.

Learn more about: www.maltepe.bel.tr