In his film Bocuk: An Ancient Ritual, director Muğra Mert Alkayalar aims to capture and revive an enigmatic but lesser-known piece  of Turkey’s cultural heritage: Bocuk Night. This Balkan-Turkic tradition, said to date back to the Middle Ages, is still alive in the remote Thracian village of Çamlıca. Bocuk: An Ancient Ritual reflects both the folkloric roots of the ritual, often likened to Halloween, and its contemporary transformation under the influence of popular culture. From the intimate preparations to the eerie celebrations taking place on the coldest night of the year, the audience is immersed directly in the atmosphere of this winter ritual. By giving voice to local participants, historians, and cultural custodians, the documentary aspires not only to preserve and transmit this tradition but also to invite international audiences to experience its haunting, communal, and timeless spirit

Buğra Mert Alkayalar
Director Buğra Mert Alkayalar received his Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema and Television from Anadolu University in 2020 and his Master’s Degree in Cinema and Television in 2024. He is currently working as a Research Assistant at Istanbul Kültür University while pursuing a Ph.D. in Cinema at Marmara University. Alkayalar has participated in national and international festivals, including the Adana Golden Boll Film Festival, the Fabisad GIO Awards, the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, and the Morbido Fest. He is currently continuing his studies in cinema.