Following his critically acclaimed coming-of-age story And Then We Danced, Swedish-Georgian director Levan Akin returns with Crossing, a new drama predominantly filmed in Istanbul. Akin describes the film as “my love letter to Istanbul”, reimagining the city’s crowded, chaotic, yet captivating atmosphere as a sanctuary for all the ‘others’.

Crossing begins in Georgia with the unlikely pairing of Lia, a retired teacher, and Achi, a resentful young man. Lia’s mission to find her transgender niece, Tekla, who fled to Istanbul, leads her to ask Achi to join her on this uncertain journey. Despite their differences, they set off together, arriving in the vast and unfamiliar city of Istanbul, unable to speak a word of Turkish. There, they meet Evrim, a lawyer dedicated to trans rights, and two homeless refugee children, all while navigating the complexities of the city and their struggles.

Crossing is an evocative road movie that tells a deeply human story against the backdrop of Istanbul. The film, produced in collaboration with LGBTIQ associations in Turkey, may seem at times like a fairytale with utopian ideals, but its strength comes from its depiction and belief in solidarity.

Berlin 2024

Audience Award 2nd Panorama - Teddy Jury Prize