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# BAFTA picks Ayse Toprak, director of ‘Mr Gay Syria’, for its two-year career development programme, Elevate
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/bafta-picks-ayse-toprak-director-of-mr-gay-syria-for-its-two-year-career-development-programme-elevate/
- Published: 2025-02-11T14:33:13.000Z
- Updated: 2025-02-11T14:33:13.000Z
- Description: BAFTA has unveiled the documentary and factual filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds participating in its two-year career development programme Elevate. The cohort includes Mr Gay Syria director Ayse Toprak whose 2017 documentary picked up awards at Sarajevo, Krakow and Seville festivals. Mr
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: Sponsored Content, BAFTA

**BAFTA** has unveiled the documentary and factual filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds participating in its two-year career development programme **Elevate**.

The cohort includes *Mr Gay Syria* director **Ayse Toprak** whose 2017 documentary picked up awards at **Sarajevo**, **Krakow** and **Seville** festivals.

*Mr Gay Syria* follows two gay Syrian refugees who are trying to rebuild their lives. Husein is a barber in Istanbul, living a double life between his conservative family and his gay identity.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/toprak-2019.jpg)

Ayse Toprak

Mahmoud is the founder of Syria’s LGBTQ+ movement and is a refugee in Berlin. What brings them together is a dream: to participate in an international beauty contest as an escape from their trapped lives and an answer to their invisibility. Will the dream come true or will the refugee crisis and the harsh consequences of being gay in the Muslim world shatter it to pieces?

The 20 individuals will receive a tailored programme comprising networking opportunities, masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions.