Elephants and Grass (Filler ve Çimen)

Elephants and Grass is a Turkish political drama written and directed by Derviş Zaim. Filmed in 2000 and released nationwide in Turkey on 5 January 2001, it examines corruption, violence, and vested interests through six different stories that converge on a shared theme. The disappearance of a regular bribe paid to a minister sets off a chain of events that exposes a dark network of dirty money, drug trafficking, and protected casinos.

Within this landscape, the story of Havva, a young woman dreaming of winning the Eurasia Marathon, sets personal hopes against the decay engulfing the country. Starring Sanem Çelik, Haluk Bilginer, Ali Sürmeli, Uğur Polat, and Ezel Akay, the film earned numerous honors, including the Golden Orange Behlül Dal Jury Special Award as well as Golden Tulip and SİYAD prizes, bringing major recognition to both its director and Çelik.