Exodus is a UK production dramatic film simultaneously released on digital platforms on 20 June 2025. The film explores universal themes such as media censorship, state-controlled information manipulation, and social polarization, focusing on the shared human plight of individuals from different social strata in the face of war, oppression, and migration.[4]
Exodus portrays the intertwined journeys of an academic, a police officer, and a Kurdish artist who become targets of escalating political repression in Turkey following the 2016 Turkish coup attempt.[5] Labeled as "terrorists" by the state, the three protagonists are forced to abandon their families and flee the country through illegal means, living under the constant threat of arrest and imprisonment.
Their escape paths converge at a safehouse near the Greek border, where they encounter each other along with other displaced individuals, including Yazidi and Congolese refugees. Together, they navigate a perilous human smuggling network while confronting both their personal traumas and the authoritarian regime they are fleeing. The film highlights their shared struggle for justice, human rights, and freedom.[5]
Through these intersecting narratives, Exodus delivers a broader critique of authoritarian governance, exploring state control over the judiciary and media, the systematic silencing of dissent, and growing polarization in society. While rooted in the Turkish context, the film adopts a universal perspective, reflecting similar repressive conditions experienced in other parts of the world. Central to the narrative is the search for safety, dignity, and justice by those forced into exile.
Background
Exodus is a film inspired by real-life events that took place in Turkey between 2016 and 2023, particularly in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt in July 2016. Following the coup attempt, the Turkish government declared a state of emergency and issued emergency decrees that led to the closure of more than 2,000 institutions allegedly linked to the Gülen movement. These institutions included schools, universities, hospitals, media outlets, and humanitarian organizations.[6][7]
More than 1.6 million people were investigated based on criteria not defined in law. Tens of thousands, including journalists, academics, bureaucrats, and judges, were detained or arrested.[8] In response to increasing political repression after the 2016 coup attempt, over 230,000 Turkish citizens had their passports revoked by authorities, with tens of thousands—many of them alleged members of the Gülen movement—reportedly leaving the country through irregular means to seek asylum in various European countries.[9][10] Both government and migration research reports indicate that the majority of post-2016 Turkish asylum cases in European countries involved individuals facing state persecution linked to alleged Gülenist ties.[11]
Exodus depicts the personal stories of individuals who were forced to flee Turkey under these conditions, offering a cinematic portrayal of political persecution and mass displacement.[4][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
Awards
An official poster with prizes
Exodus received recognition at several international independent film festivals in 2024. At the London Independent Film Festival, it won the Best Drama Feature award, with director Serkan Nihat and executive producers Murat Kesgin and Ender Zirekoğlu acknowledged for their contributions.[22][23]
The film also received an Honorable Mention for Best Independent Film at the Montreal Independent Film Festival, recognizing Nihat’s direction.[23]
At the Touchstone Independent Film Festival, Exodus was again awarded Best Drama Feature, with Nihat credited as director.[23][24]
Reception
Critical response
Serkan Nihat (The director of Exodus)
“If we look at the human timeline, democracy has only existed for a short period of time. For centuries we have been ruled by kings, queens, Tsars, Emperors and Sultans. Then slowly people started to rise up and many countries faced revolutions where the rulers were toppled, and replaced with democracy. However recently, people are beginning to not trust the system. People believe that their democracy has been hijacked by bureaucracy and self-interest and the needs of the majority clash with the self-interest of the minority. Every single one of us. You, your loved ones, and myself can all be perceived as enemies of the state. The person that was your friend, your ally is suddenly your enemy.” says Hakan Arıkan [25]
The movie was described by film critic John Higgins as “another fine example of the cinematic possibilities presented if you have a strong idea combined with limited means.” He said the stories in the movie were “emotionally involving” and “heartbreaking at times.”[22] Turkish Minute praised the storytelling as “emotionally involving” despite limited resources.[26] It was released globally on digital platforms on 20 June 2025.[27]
Censorship and controversy
In July 2025, Turkish authorities blocked all trailers of Exodus on YouTube in Türkiye following a governmental complaint, highlighting the film’s politically sensitive content.[28]
Following the video ban, several social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, were reported to have restricted or suspended official and promotional accounts related to the film. According to international media outlets, these platforms either received takedown requests from Turkish authorities or preemptively disabled access to the film's pages within Türkiye.
Cast and characters
Denis Ostier played Hakan who is an academic in the film.Ümit Ülgen played Mehmet who is a police officer in the film.
According to the film's official sources, the cast [29]
Denis Ostier — Hakan: After starting his acting career in 2019, he took on his first feature-length leading role in Exodus.[30]
Ümit Ülgen — Mehmet: Ülgen, who has starred in productions such as “Doctor Strange” and “The Night Manager”, plays police officer Mehmet in the film. A police character from Erzurum; a portrait struggling between conscience and duty.
Dilan Derya Zeynilli — Nilüfer: An idealistic lawyer from a wealthy background.
Doğa Çelik — Sahab: A character with a dark past involved in human trafficking.
Selen Cabel — Zelal: An idealist of Kurdish origin with an artistic soul.
Azra Çiftçi — Havin: A Yazidi woman; a victim of war and a figure searching for hope.
Murat Zeynilli — Yılmaz: A 33-year-old intelligence officer; a nationalist figure with past ties to Hakan.
Günce Ateş — Nermin: A mother whose husband is in France; finds the story within the framework of the concepts of migration and family.
Gamze Özdemir — Esra: A math teacher; struggles with loneliness after her husband Mehmet leaves her.
Saudiq Baoku — Kembo: A Congolese refugee character; The bond he establishes with Eren reflects the importance of humanity.
Alina Yakovleva — Yaren: Mehmet and Esra's 11-year-old daughter; a symbol of a child affected by war.
Barbaros Öğüt — Eren: Nermin's 10-year-old son; a child's perspective of the migration journey.
Production
The film's director, Serkan Nihat, has a background in cinematography and editing based in London. He has previously worked as an assistant editor and short film producer in British television projects. Exodus is his first feature-length directorial experience.[4][31]
Murat Kesgin, one of the producers, has 30 years of experience in the Turkish television industry and has been involved in the project since the story's development phase.[4] He is also known as producer and writer of Iki Dünya Arasinda (2012) and Selam (2013).[32]
Release
Exodus released for global release on 20 June 2025, across major digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube TV, Google Play Movies & TV, and Vimeo.[33]
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