Istanbul Film Festival in the context of "Beyoğlu"

Beyoğlu (Turkish: [ˈbejoːɫu]) is a municipality and district of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its area is 9 km, and its population is 225,920 (2022). It is on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople now known as Fatih) by the Golden Horn.

Genoese traders founded Beyoğlu. Beyoğlu's population was mostly foreign and of European background in the 19th century. Events such as 1950s Istanbul pogrom and suburbanization led to high income Muslims, Armenians, Greeks, and Jews leaving for the suburbs, which resulted in decaying housing. Urban renewal projects and gentrification started in 1980s and 1990s. Cultural events such as Istanbul Film Festival, restaurants, and coffee shops were established, while middle-income and upper-income residents returned to the area. Present-day Beyoğlu is one of the main night-life areas in Istanbul.