KEDI

"In Istanbul, the cat is more than just a cat. The cat embodies the indescribable chaos, the culture and the uniqueness that is Istanbul."

In the ancient city of Istanbul, cats have roamed the city streets freely for thousands of years. Neither strays nor house cats, they wander spontaneously in and out of the lives of the residents of this bustling metropolis at will, and enjoy seemingly unfettered access to cafés, markets, homes and open spaces.

Far from being merely another celebration of feline cuteness, Ceyda Torun's debut feature-length documentary, Kedi, is an absorbing, exquisitely photographed (often from the cat's-eye view) and philosophical insight into one of the world's most enigmatic animals, and the delight, purpose and sometimes salvation they bring to the people in one of the world's most captivating cities. Following seven of the city's cats in particular – Bengü, Deniz, Duman, Gamsiz, Rat Catcher, Yellow and Psycho – Kedi is as close as we'll come to experiencing what it's like to be a cat in Istanbul.

"These cats could be characters from a Dickens tale – and their human companions are no less compelling." – The Guide Istanbul