A question echoes through the silence of the Taurus Mountains: “Who was there in our absence?” Relying mainly on imagery rather than words, this short documentary looks at life among the yörük, the Türkmen tribes whose seasonal migration takes them from the Mediterranean hinterlands to the Taurus Mountains. Time has witnessed the yörük, whose origins lie in Central Asia, transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a more settled existence. Elders can still recall a time when neighbors would entertain each other, singing and dancing and playing music on sipsi, delbek, keman and saz. Who Was There In Our Absence? follows the shifting relationship between time and place, as the ancient bond with nature is transformed, drawing a subtle line between memory and present reality. The film invites the audience not only to witness this transformation, but also to reflect on the meaning of absence, remembrance, and belonging.

Eren Uğur
Independent filmmaker Eren Uğur received both his BA and MA in Cinema from Selcuk University. Since his graduation, he has been involved in various aspects of film production as well as festival organization. His short fiction films Mami (2014), Selvi Uykusu (2023) and İKİ BİN II (2025) have screened at various film festivals in Turkey. He also produced the documentary Yaşanmışlık Kenti, which received Honorable Mention at the Beypazarı Short Film Festival in 2016. Uğur currently works as a specialist at TRT, where he conducts research on the social impact of television series and films, cultural representation, and institutional representation.