I Am 12,000 Years Old

A shepherd single-handedly protects thousands-of-years-old rock carvings discovered in the mountains surrounding his village.

Gökhan, who lives in a small village hidden among the mountains of Kars, centers his life around the rock carvings he encountered years ago while wandering in the mountains. These lines etched into stone—ignored by the state, academics, and even the villagers—are, in his eyes, the voice of the past. While trying to support his family through shepherding, Gökhan also strives, with his own limited means, to preserve this cultural heritage. "I Am 12,000 Years Old" is a quiet yet profound story that questions the significance of individual effort in sustaining collective memory. Set in a remote village in Turkey, it brings to light the humble resistance of a hero overlooked by the modern world. DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT "I Am 12,000 Years Old" is not just a documentary for me; it is a story of conscience. I was deeply moved by the efforts of a man in a remote corner of Anatolia who, without any support, has devoted himself to protecting a heritage that is thousands of years old. In Gökhan's story, I saw how an ordinary life can carry a truly universal meaning. Through this film, I want to convey that history does not exist only in museums or books; it lives in villages, on mountains, etched into stones, and in the hearts of the people who protect it. Through Gökhan's journey, I hope audiences will look not only at the history of Anatolia, but also at their own roots and responsibilities. Because the past can only survive into the future if we choose to protect it today.

Director — Batuhan Karadağoğlu

Born in Elazığ in 1995, Batuhan Karadağoğlu studied Radio, Television, and Cinema at Istanbul University. In addition to his academic education, he further developed his expertise in visual storytelling through various courses and certification programs in color science, color design, cinematography, and cinematic lighting. Focusing primarily on independent cinema and art films, Karadağoğlu embraces an aesthetic approach to cinematography that places the relationship between light, color, and atmosphere at its core.