Devrim Arabaları (Cars of the Revolution) + Q&A with Tolga Örnek & Selçuk Yöntem
Sat Oct 24, 2026 4:30 PM - 9:00PM EST
Spadina Theatre, Alliance Française de Toronto
About the Event
Join us for a very special screening of Devrim Arabaları (Cars of the Revolution), one of the most memorable films of Turkish cinema, followed by an in-person conversation and audience Q&A with director Tolga Örnek and acclaimed actor Selçuk Yöntem. The event will be moderated by Dila Dokuzoğlu.
This special event is organized by Ankara Library of Toronto in partnership with the Toronto Turkish Film Festival in celebration of Republic Day of Türkiye. It brings together the filmmaker and one of the film's prominent actors for an evening of cinema, history, storytelling and conversation. It offers Toronto audiences a unique opportunity not only to revisit a landmark Turkish film, but also to hear directly from the people who brought its story to the screen.
The Film
Devrim Arabaları (Cars of the Revolution)
Turkey | 2008 | 115 min. | Drama / Historical
Directed, co-produced and co-written by Tolga Örnek, Devrim Arabaları tells the remarkable true story behind Türkiye's first domestically produced automobile.
In 1961, President Cemal Gürsel (Sait Genay) orders the production of a completely domestically manufactured automobile. The responsibility is given to a team of 23 engineers working for the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), who are given an almost impossible deadline: they have just 130 days to build the cars in time for Republic Day.
With limited resources, enormous political pressure and countless technical obstacles standing in their way, the engineers devote themselves to an ambitious national project. What follows is a compelling story of determination, ingenuity, teamwork and the human cost of pursuing an extraordinary dream against the clock.
More than a film about building a car, Devrim Arabaları explores questions of ambition, perseverance, national confidence and what it means to believe in an idea when the odds are overwhelmingly against you.
The film features an acclaimed ensemble cast including Selçuk Yöntem, Taner Birsel, Halit Ergenç, Vahide Perçin, Altan Gördüm, Uğur Polat, Haluk Bilginer and Altan Erkekli.
Our Guests
Selçuk Yöntem
One of Turkey's most respected stage and screen actors, Selçuk Yöntem has a distinguished career spanning theatre, cinema and television.
His extensive screen career includes films such as C Blok, Suyun Öte Yanı and Devrim Arabaları, as well as widely recognized television productions including Deli Yürek, Kurtlar Vadisi and Aşk-ı Memnu.
For his performance in Devrim Arabaları, Yöntem portrays Latif, one of the central figures in the story of the engineers tasked with building Türkiye's first domestically produced automobile. His performance earned him the 2009 Sadri Alışık Award for Best Actor.
We are delighted to welcome Selçuk Yöntem to Toronto for this special event, offering audiences a unique opportunity to hear his memories and perspectives on the film and his experience bringing Latif to life.
Tolga Örnek is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and producer whose career spans documentary and narrative cinema.
He began his filmmaking career with documentaries including Atatürk, Mount Nemrut: The Throne of the Gods, The Hittites and Gallipoli. His 2005 documentary Gallipoli received international recognition, and Örnek was awarded an honorary medal of the Order of Australia for his work.
In 2008, he made his feature-film debut with Devrim Arabaları, which he wrote, produced and directed. He subsequently directed and produced films including Kaybedenler Kulübü (Losers' Club), Labyrinth, Senin Hikayen, Sen Benim Herşeyimsin and Mucize Aynalar (Miracle Mirrors).
At this event, Tolga Örnek will join the audience for an in-person post-screening conversation and Q&A about the making of Devrim Arabaları, its historical story, and the journey of bringing this remarkable chapter of Turkish history to the screen.
Presented by
Ankara Library of Toronto
Toronto Turkish Film Festival
We look forward to welcoming you for a memorable evening celebrating Turkish cinema and storytelling.
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Venue: Alliance Française Toronto, Spadina Theatre
Guests: Tolga Örnek & Selçuk Yöntem
Screening: Devrim Arabaları (Cars of the Revolution)
Followed by: In-person conversation & audience Q&A
Program
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM (4:30 PM: Doors Open)
Conversation with Selçuk Yöntem
Screening of Devrim Arabaları (Cars of the Revolution)
Live On-Stage Q&A with Tolga Örnek & Selçuk Yöntem
Location
Spadina Theatre at Alliance Française de Toronto
Presented by
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