TURTLE SHELLS

European animal protection laws, German Armed Forces foreign operations and a seized turtle, whose shell was painted with the flag of the Syrian rebels. All converge at a reptile rescue centre in Munich, headed by Dr. Markus Baur. A German army specialist is learning how to deal with dangerous reptiles  – he must keep calm, catch, neutralize. Meanwhile, Baur informs the turtle's Syrian owner she's unlikely to get her animal back under European species protection law. A multi perspective film in the midst of glass terrariums exploring the connections between animal, mankind and war.

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Original Title: Schildkröten Panzer 

Writer/Director/Producer: Tuna Kaptan 

With: Kinda Alfaji, Ben, Markus Baur

DOP: Rebecca Meining  

Editor: Sophie Oldenbourg

Music: Masha Yulin, Aleksandra Koziol, Constanze Maestranzi, Kosta T

Sound: Victor Aleksandrovich, Jonas Heldt, Annika Sehn 

Narrator: Michael Kranz

Sound Design: Clemens Becker

Sound Mix: Rodolfo Silveira

In Collaboration with: University of Television and Film Munich 

Logline: The stories of a Syrian turtle and a German soldier intersect in a rescue centre for reptiles in Munich. 

Awards: Healthy Workplaces Film Award Dok Leipzig 2017

WDR Award Short Film Festival Cologne 2018

Festivals: DOK Leipzig International Documentary Film Festival

International Short Film Week Regensburg Short Film Festival Landshut

Istanbul International Film Festival

GoShort Nijmegen

DOK.fest Munich

Documentarist Istanbul

Filmamed Documentary Festival

Wendland Shorts

Pelicam Film Festival

Makedox Film Festival

DokumentArt Festival 

Aegean Docs

International  Short Film Festival Cologne

Human Right Documentary Days Izmir

Über Kurz oder Lang Murnau

Kisa Film Kolektifi Festivali Istanbul 

Filmfest Dresden

Status: Distribution through Donaukapitän

Release: October 2018

Technical Data: Documentary, 30 minutes, DCP,  5.1 Dolby SR