A poetic documentary by Turkish filmmaker Eren Aybars Arpacik, The Sound of the Tree explores the emotional and spiritual relationship between humans and nature through the story of saz-maker Halil Kafes, who sees trees as living memories accompanying human life from cradle to grave.

The film unfolds through a quiet and contemplative cinematic language, where music, wood, and natural sounds become emotional narrative elements rather than simple documentary observations. Through the life of a former woodcutter from the Taurus Mountains, the film reflects on belonging, memory, craftsmanship, and cultural continuity.

Rather than relying on direct explanation, the documentary builds its atmosphere through rhythm, silence, and visual intimacy, allowing sound and image to carry emotional meaning organically. Nature itself becomes part of the storytelling structure.

Eren Aybars Arpacik’s filmmaking style is characterized by visual sensitivity and closeness to people and environments, with a strong focus on cultural heritage, environmental awareness, and everyday human experiences.

At the 4th edition of the Kobani International Film Festival, Yılmaz Güney Second Edition, the film received the Best Documentary Film Award in recognition of its emotional depth and its ability to transform a simple human story into a poetic cinematic experience.

Film Information

• Original Title: The Sound of the Tree
• Director: Eren Aybars Arpacik
• Production Year: 2022
• Country: Turkey
• Duration: 15 min
• Format: Short Documentary Film
• Genre: Documentary / Musical / Human

About the Director: Eren Aybars Arpacik

Eren Aybars Arpacik is a Turkish documentary filmmaker and producer born in Istanbul in 1983. He graduated from Istanbul Bilgi University’s Media and Communication Systems department and also studied Film and Television as a minor field.

He began his career as an assistant director and post-production manager before moving into directing documentary and cultural productions. His work spans television and cinema projects focused on social, cultural, and environmental themes.

In 2021, he founded his own production company in Bodrum and collaborated with international platforms including PBS and CGTN. His cinematic approach combines visual intimacy, cultural observation, and a strong sensitivity toward nature and human memory.

The Sound of the Tree received the Best Documentary Film Award at the 4th edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2023, Yılmaz Güney Second Edition, in recognition of its poetic cinematic language and its intimate portrayal of memory, music, and humanity’s connection to nature.