Heartwarming queer road movie through Istanbul's trans community. Fourth feature from filmmaker Levan Akin (And Then We Danced), in which he resolutely opts for hope, tenderness and unexpected encounters.

Lia, a retired teacher from Georgia, is determined to find her long-lost transgender niece Tekla. When she learns from her 20-year-old neighbor boy that Tekla has left for Turkey, she travels to Istanbul and takes the sassy Achi with her. In the vibrant city, they make new contacts and see a world full of possibilities. But how do you find someone who may not want to be found? When they meet Evrim, a trans rights lawyer, it seems to help their search. As Lia and Achi make their way through the alleys of Istanbul, Tekla begins to feel closer than ever.

The film by acclaimed director Levan Akin (And Then We Danced) had its world premiere at the Berlinale, where it won the Teddy Jury Award. After Berlin, Crossing Istanbul made a successful tour of many film festivals and was mostly praised for its beautiful cinematography and touching chemistry between the protagonists.