Of the Black Sea

“A story of heritage and skiing in Türkiye”

More than a ski film, Of the Black Sea is a personal, character-driven journey with Türkiye’s mountains as the backdrop. Turkic-American pro skier Giray Dadali returns to his father’s homeland to confront a question he’s carried for years: Which has a greater influence—heritage or upbringing? As he steps into a new chapter of life, the trip becomes both an adventure and an exploration of belonging. Moving between winter terrain, lived-in moments, and reflections on family and culture, Giray searches for where he fits—and what parts of Turkish identity he wants to carry forward. The result is a film about connection: to place, to lineage, and to the stories we inherit and rewrite.

Director: Hennie Van Jaarsveld