Empire of the Rabbits

Musa lives with his father, Beko, in rural Turkey. Beko, struggling to make ends meet by assisting in rabbit-hound races, is lured by the promise of a government disability pension for Musa if he can prove his son's “disability” with a medical report. To pass as disabled, Musa must learn to mimic the mannerisms of people with physical disabilities from Nergis, a girl his age, who also pretends to be disabled.

As the suppression of their adult world increases, Musa rescues Nergis into his dream of a rabbit empire he created in an old mine with all the rabbits Musa could save from the traps and the hound races. Together they fight to save the rabbits from traps and themselves from the cruelty of the adult world.

TALLINN BLACK NIGHTS (PÖFF) 2024 - OFFICIAL SELECTION COMPETITION - Best Script and Best Cinematography Awards
                                   

Seyfettin Tokmak (1978) is a Turkish director, cinematographer, and film theorist with a versatile background in film and television education. He has been actively involved in both practical filmmaking and film essay writing. Tokmak has also worked extensively for the benefit of children, participating in the work of the UN International Organization for Migration to help child refugees and conducting short film courses in juvenile prison. Children are also the main characters in his refugee-themed debut feature film BROKEN MUSSELS (2011), which won the Arte Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival. As a documentarian, Seyfettin Tokmak made the tragicomic film about treasure hunters DREAM GANG (2010) and the documentary series ORIENT EXPRESS (2011), which showcases contemporary Turkey. EMPIRE OF THE RABBITS (2024), his latest film, has been selected for the Tallinn Black Nights FF and has won two prizes: Best Cinematography and Best Script.