Director Doğa Kılcıoğlu Esen discussed Kirpik (Eyelash), a film that emerged following her father’s death: “I didn’t make a conscious decision to create this film; rather, you could say I needed to make it.”
Director Doğa Kılcıoğlu Esen’s 2025 animated short film Kirpik explores themes of loss and grief through the lens of childhood memory, utilizing a black-and-white, dialogue-free narrative style. In the film, a young girl grows up in the shadow of a giant eye’s lashes; over time, this sheltered world shifts as the eye slowly begins to close.

Developed at the Canlandıranlar Talent Camp and completed after a four-year production process, Kirpik was inspired by Esen’s own experience of grief. The film has received various accolades, including the Special Jury Prize at Directed by Women Turkey, Best Short Film at SİYAD 2026, Best Animation at the 26th International İzmir Short Film Festival, and the Original Perspective Award at the Seattle Turkish Film Festival.

In previous statements, Doğa Kılcıoğlu Esen explained that the film emerged from the grieving process she underwent after her father’s death during the pandemic, and noted that she honed her animation skills through the Canlandıranlar Talent Camp and various training programs.

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