İlker Çatak is currently stuck in Tenerife just days before the world premiere of his film at the Berlinale due to travel delays. The 42-year-old was working on the screenplay in the Canary Islands when complications arose concerning his flight back, which highlights the stressful lead-up to a significant event in the film festival circuit. Çatak's film "Gelbe Briefe" (Yellow Letters) focuses on the struggles of a Turkish artist couple who face government oppression under Erdoğan's regime.

The film's narrative not only delves into the personal experiences of the couple but also serves as a broader commentary on the sociopolitical climate in Turkey, marked by censorship and fear. Çatak expresses a strong desire for the film to be screened in Turkey, yet he is acutely aware of the potential repercussions for his actors and the artistic community. The elephant in the room remains the risk of government backlash against those who might be involved in promoting or screening content deemed unfavorable by the authorities.

As the Berlinale approaches, the implications of Çatak's film resonate even more, considering the festival's international platform. The director hopes that his work can spark dialogues about freedom of expression and the challenges faced by artists in authoritarian regimes. His situation serves as a reminder of the precarious nature of artistic freedom and the personal toll it can take on creators in hostile environments.