Documentary about legendary VakifBank captain wins awards

Istanbul, Turkey, November 17, 2020. ‘Gözde the Fighter’, a documentary about the legendary team captain of VakifBank ISTANBUL, Gözde Kirdar, is the winner of the ‘Best Sports Film’ prizes presented by IMDb Qualifier New York International Film – a monthly film festival with public screening events organised in the very heart of Manhattan – and by Oniros Film Awards. Moreover, the documentary has received two nominations from the prestigious Venice Shorts Film Festival and the Montreal Independent Film Festival as well.

Produced after Gözde Kirdar’s retirement from VakifBank and competitive sport at the end of the 2017-2018 season, the documentary has received much international acclaim and those able to watch it will include the audience gathering at the Producers’ Club near Times Square in New York City.

It took more than two years to produce the documentary. A team of 12 people worked on the actual shooting in Istanbul and Kütahya, Gözde’s birthplace, with hours of footage recorded by the crew narrowed down to 27 minutes reviewing the career and personality of such an outstanding player and woman.

Watch the full movie (with English subtitles) here:

The documentary premiered at VakifBank Spor Sarayi, the official home of VakifBank, when the club retired the no. 2 jersey worn by Kirdar throughout her career. With the likes of VakifBank, Gözde secured as many as four titles from the elite CEV Champions League – doing so in 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018 – as well as three gold medals from the FIVB Club World Championship – in 2013, 2017 and 2018.