COHORT 3 PARTICIPANT

Sibel Guvenc is an award-winning Turkish-Canadian director, producer, and based in Toronto with her production company Kybele Films. Sibel has an MFA in Film from York University and an Honours BFA degree in Integrated Media and Film from OCAD University. Sibel has received thirty film awards and nominations at international film festivals with her films.

Sibel’s feature film project, LOYA, received Telefilm Development funding and was selected for the 2021 JETS, a co-production initiative in Berlin supported by Telefilm. Loya was also selected for the 2020 Whistler Film Festival (WFF) Producers Lab, WFF Power Pitch, and shortlisted for the Netflix Canadian Pitch Day. Sibel was a part of TIFF Talent Lab, Telefilm Producers without Borders Berlinale Co_production Market, CMPA Telefilm Producer Trainee Program, WIDC Story Development and Production Module, and the WIDC Career Advancement Module.

Sibel’s latest short film, End of the Rope (2020), was officially selected for the 38th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival and received Best Sci-Fi Film awards at festivals from Beverley Hills to Houston with additional screenings from San Francisco to Moscow. Turkish Mesir Macunu (2019) was officially selected, awarded, and nominated in Canada (7 nominations at 2020 Reelworld Film Festival and official selection at 2020 Female Eye Film Festival), Chile, Turkey, India, Romania, the U.S. among others.

Sibel is interested in producing films about social justice, women empowerment, and the future of science and the environment. She is attracted to portray strong female characters who overcome social and psychological restrictions in their search for self.