Princes Islands: from Imperial Exile to Modern Escape

An hour from Istanbul, the Princes Islands feel like another world. As the ferry leaves the Bosphorus and crosses the Sea of Marmara, the city fades into a distant silhouette and a quieter rhythm takes over. This documentary explores Kinaliada and Buyukada, where wooden villas, narrow streets, and silent paths replace the intensity of the metropolis. With no cars, only bicycles, footsteps, and the sound of wind, the islands reveal a slower, more attentive way of moving through space. Once a place of exile during the Byzantine era, the archipelago has transformed into a refuge for those seeking distance from the city without truly leaving it behind. Layers of history remain visible in the architecture, in the communities that shaped these islands, and in the landscape itself. Through shifting light, calm waters, and everyday moments, the film captures a place where time expands - and where Istanbul can finally be seen from the right distance.

Princes Islands: from Imperial Exile to Modern Escape is a 2026 documentary movie directed by Pietro Pellizzieri. It runs 50m.