Serkan Nihat is a North London-based filmmaker with a successful career in TV dramas, specialising in digital post-production, and directing commercials for major brands. Exodus (2025), his debut feature film, was inspired by real-life events. It depicts the intertwined journeys of people from different backgrounds who become targets of escalating political repression in Turkey following the failed coup attempt in July 2016. Tens of thousands of citizens sought asylum abroad, but the film, while set against the overarching themes of politics, migration and identity, chooses to focus closely on the individual experience of a small number of those targeted as “terrorists” by the state and their shared struggle for justice, human rights and freedom.
In 2024, Exodus (2025) received the following awards on the international independent film festival circuit:
- London Independent Film Festival: Best Drama Feature
- Touchstone Independent Film Festival: Best Drama Feature
- Montreal Independent Film Festival: Special Jury Prize.
It was released globally on digital platforms in June 2025. In July 2025, Turkish authorities blocked trailers and promotional accounts of Exodus (2025) on social media platforms in the country following a government complaint.
In short, Exodus (2025) is a gripping drama that masterfully balances political urgency with deeply humane storytelling.
We’re delighted that Serkan will be coming to introduce his film and answer your questions in a Q&A session afterwards.