A documentary portraying the lives and struggles of Palestinians living under Israeli siege in Gaza has won the Jury Special Award in the National Documentary Film Competition at the 63rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.

Kül ve Tuz (Ash and Salt), written and directed by Çağatay Yurt and produced by Düş Fabrikası, received the award after making its world premiere at the festival, which was held from Oct. 24 to 31.

The 48-minute Türkiye-Palestine co-production was filmed in Gaza under wartime conditions over more than a year. Rather than focusing solely on destruction and casualty figures, the documentary gives a voice to Palestinians struggling to preserve their lives, families and hopes amid relentless violence and the devastating consequences of the Israeli assault.

Through the personal testimonies of a painter, a firefighter, an ambulance worker, a baker, six orphaned children and parents who lost their children in attacks, the film brings the human cost of the war into focus. It documents the daily realities of people living under siege, highlighting their grief, resilience and determination to hold on to life despite the destruction surrounding them.

Director Çağatay Yurt dedicated the award to the children of Gaza and the people whose stories are told in the documentary, emphasizing that the recognition belonged to those living through the war.

“We are custodians of this award,” Yurt said, underscoring that the real owners of the recognition were the Palestinians whose experiences and suffering the film seeks to bring before a wider audience.

The award comes as Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure a severe humanitarian crisis despite the ceasefire agreement announced in October 2025. Israeli attacks have continued to cause casualties, while restrictions on humanitarian supplies, widespread destruction and shortages of essential services have left much of the population in extremely precarious conditions.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing Gaza's Health Ministry, 1,593 Palestinians had been reported killed and 5,748 injured since the ceasefire by Nov. 2, 2026. OCHA also reported continued Israeli airstrikes, shooting and shelling in populated areas, as well as declining humanitarian supplies and growing concerns over access to food and other essentials ahead of winter.

Against this backdrop, Ash and Salt seeks to preserve the personal stories behind the statistics and ensure that the experiences of Palestinians living under siege are not forgotten. Its recognition at one of Türkiye's major film festivals has brought further attention to the voices of Gaza's civilians and the importance of documenting their experiences. (ILKHA)