http://flyingcarpetfestival.org/

Flying Carpet Festival, mardin merkez, Mardin (2026)

17/06/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to honor a true titan of our festival family—the wonderfully inventive, multi-talented, and deeply beloved Shayan Shariat ! 🛠️🎭✨

Shayan is a creative maker and a true genius who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from the Azad University of Art in Tehran. But on the carpet, he is so much more than his title. Introduced to us in 2022 by our founding member Soheila Bajelan, Shayan instantly became one of the main pillars of the Flying Carpet Festival. Since the moment he arrived, we simply haven’t been able to let him go!

👑 The Ultimate Guardian of the Carpet
Shayan is one of the most precious, generous, and highly skillful artists in our entire collective. He pours so much love into this project that he protects and takes care of Flying Carpet—and our beloved giant sugar-cube puppet, Shekshekar—as if they were his own children. He is a beautiful soul who possesses that rare, magical quality: he is a child at heart who will remain a child forever, full of boundless wonder and joy. 🧸❤️

🛠️ A Master of All Trades
Known for his brilliant problem-solving mindset, Shayan thrives under pressure and can tackle any creative challenge thrown his way. He wears countless vital hats for us, serving as our:

- Stage Designer: Transforming performance spaces into breathtaking, imaginative worlds.
- Prop & Costume Maker: Engineering incredible physical pieces out of raw imagination. ✂️🎨
- Shekshekar Dance Trainer: Bringing our giant puppet to life and teaching others how to make her dance.
Whenever a project, a performance, or a crisis requires the absolute utmost attention, care, and precision, it is always referred straight to this creative genius. His work perfectly fuses technical brilliance with deep artistic exploration, driven by pure curiosity and innovation.

We are profoundly grateful for Shayan’s endless dedication, his tireless hands, and his giant heart. The carpet wouldn’t fly the same without him!
Thank you for everything you do, Shayan! 🕊️🔥

16/06/2026

We are bursting with pride and love to spotlight a true hero of our festival, a master behind the lens, and one of the absolute pillars of our family—the incomparable filmmaker and videographer, Özgür Mert ! 🎥🎞️✨

Özgür has been an irreplaceable part of the Flying Carpet Festival since 2021. While looking back through our archives, we realized something incredibly touching: we could barely find a single photo of him from the last five years. Why? Because as a dedicated filmmaker, Özgür is always completely hidden behind the camera, selflessly capturing everyone else’s magic, joy, and light.

⏳ Capturing the Purest Moments
Özgür is a brilliant filmmaker who focuses deeply on documentary storytelling. For him, the best stories in the world come directly from the Flying Carpet family. As he beautifully puts it:

“I love following the beauty of the time we are in and try my best to show it in the purest way I can. I had the chance to participate in many social projects in the world and that experience convinced me the greatest way is sharing love and creativity with everyone.”

🗓️ A Year-Round Labor of Love
While most of our wonderful international artists are engaged with us for 12 to 14 days during the festival, Özgür’s cinematic dedication never stops. He works closely with the festival organizers all year round, pouring 100% of his heart, effort, and creative soul into filming, editing, and crafting the gorgeous videos that keep our mission alive globally.

💎 A Man of His Word
In today’s world, Özgür is a rare gem. He is truly “a man of his word”—deeply reliable, fiercely loyal, and incredibly humble. He never seeks the spotlight or expects anything in return; his only wish is to return to the carpet, year after year, to give everything he has as a storyteller to the children and the community.
Özgür is woven into the very DNA of the Flying Carpet Festival, and he is a pillar that will never go away. We are so profoundly proud of you, Özgür can! Thank you for showing the world our purest beauty through your films.

We love you, Özgür! 🕊️❤️

15/06/2026

We are deeply honored to spotlight a legendary creator who is woven into the very first threads of our history—the magnificent Soheila Bajelan ! 🧦🎭✨

Born in 1982 in Tehran, Iran, Soheila is an award-winning puppet designer and puppeteer. She holds a beautiful place in our hearts as the very first artist involved in the Flying Carpet project. Playing a key role in our initial steps, she is a proud member of the festival’s founding team, making her a true matriarch of Flying Carpet 2026.

🎨 A Master of Puppet Design
Soheila graduated in puppet design from the University of Applied Science and Technology in Tehran in 2002. Since launching her professional career in 2003, her hands have brought magic to life across multiple mediums:

Hundreds of Creations: She has designed and created hundreds of puppets for theater, cinema, international festivals, and Iranian television.
The World of Giant Puppets: Since 2014, under the mentorship of Fleur Marie Fuentes (France), she has collaborated with UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) as an expert trainer and designer of spectacular giant puppets. 🎭👹

🕊️ Transforming Underserved Communities
Soheila’s artistry is driven by a deep, fierce belief in the transformative power of art. She has dedicated much of her life to living and working in remote, rural areas with limited access to resources. By organizing workshops and performances, she has brought light, imagination, and inspiration to communities that need it most. Currently, she is actively developing and teaching puppet-making in two rural regions of Iran, nurturing the next generation of storytellers.

From our very first dream to the grand stages of today, Soheila’s vision and generosity continue to guide us. We are forever grateful for her presence on the carpet! Welcome back to your festival family, Soheila! 🕊️❤️

14/06/2026

We are shining a deeply affectionate spotlight on a true giant of our community—the brilliant Nima Dehghani ! 🌌🎭💻

Born in Tehran, Nima is a visionary interdisciplinary artist whose work seamlessly bridges physical reality, digital innovation, and social impact. But more than that, Nima is one of the main pillars of the Flying Carpet Festival, having been with us since 2019, the second year of the festival. He is a real child at heart, gifted with an unmatchable curiosity and the most generous soul. We all miss him dearly and are waiting with open arms for him to come back home to his own flying carpet.

🏛️ From Architecture to Digital Media
Nima’s creative foundation is built on an extraordinary academic journey. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from IUST and a Master’s degree in Fine Arts (MFA) from Carnegie Mellon University, where he specialized in digital media and performance art.

🎭 Pioneer of Experimental & VR Theater
Currently based in San Francisco, Nima works predominantly in the fields of experimental theater, Virtual Reality (VR), and video projection design. He is a true pioneer in using new technologies to reshape storytelling, and is the founder of the Re-Connect online performance festival and the CtrlZ theater group.

🕊️ Empowering Youth Through Digital Storytelling
What makes Nima such an irreplaceable part of our family is his deep commitment to using art for social good. He developed and teaches a specialized “Digital Storytelling Workshop” designed specifically for refugee children and underserved communities. Collaborating with various nonprofits in Oakland and Berlin, Nima helps young people harness the power of digital media to share their unique voices, build confidence, and heal. Nima’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of our festival, and his spirit of boundless wonder continues to inspire everything we do.

We miss you, Nima, and we can’t wait to have you back on the carpet! 🕊️❤️

13/06/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to honor a visionary who has captured the very soul, magic, and history of our community—the brilliant Berna Küpeli ! 📸🎞️✨

An award-winning photojournalist, visual storyteller, and videographer, Berna has been documenting the spirit of the Flying Carpet Festival since 2018. This year marks her 8th year with us; she has been an indispensable part of our family since the very beginning, capturing our journey from day one for Flying Carpet 2026.

🌍 Human-Centered Storytelling
Based in Çanakkale, Turkey, and a graduate of Yıldız Technical University’s photography program, Berna has been working as a freelance artist since 2012. Her profound practice focuses on:
Layered Narratives: Capturing deep stories across diverse communities, very often in fragile and underrepresented contexts.
Quiet Proximity: Revealing the unspoken moments of human connection, strength, and beauty that define the human experience.

🎓 Art Grounded in Ethics
Berna’s extensive experience spans documentary, film, and visual communications, including powerful collaborations with international NGOs and cultural initiatives. She is also a proud alumna of the prestigious VII Academy (), where she refined a documentary approach deeply grounded in ethics, proximity, and long-term engagement with her subjects.

🏡 Cultivating Collective Spaces
Beyond her incredible visual work, Berna is a community builder. She is the co-founder of an independent artist residency in Bozcaada, where she develops projects at the intersection of art, space, and cultural exchange. Through this initiative, she creates beautiful environments for collective thinking, production, and artistic growth.

We are incredibly grateful for the dedication, empathy, and artistic mastery Berna brings to the carpet year after year, turning our fleeting moments into timeless stories.

Thank you for guiding our vision since day one, Berna! 🕊️❤️

12/06/2026

We are absolutely overjoyed to welcome back a true pillar of our community—the brilliant and luminous Laura Jehle !🎪🕊️✨

This year marks Laura’s third year of attending the festival. Laura is a professional circus artist, trainer, organizer, community maker, and overall a wonderful human being whose warmth transforms every space she steps into. She is the kind of person the world truly needs more of, and we are incredibly lucky to have her as a cornerstone of the Flying Carpet family.

🎪 The Magic of Flying
Laura’s deep love for the circus began a decade ago when she first started training in aerial acrobatics. Drawn to the mesmerizing world of vertical dance, she quickly realized she was fascinated by any technique that gives you the breathtaking sensation of flight. Over the last 10 years, she has dedicated herself to developing and sharing this soaring passion with audiences and students alike. ✈️💫

👑 Heavy Production & Heartfelt Volunteering
Laura doesn’t just perform; she is heavily involved in the backbone of the festival. Working tirelessly behind the scenes as a dedicated volunteer, she puts her organizational skills and community-building heart into the festival’s production, ensuring everything flows beautifully for the artists and children alike.

🕊️ Making Young Talents Visible
For Laura, circus arts are a profound tool for human connection and empowerment. As she beautifully puts it:
“In my work in art and culture, I love creating a space where the talents of (young) people become visible. I became fascinated by working with circus in this process, as it has a magical effect on people.”
Laura’s ability to reveal the hidden magic inside every young person she trains is exactly what Flying Carpet is all about. We are so grateful for her leadership, her art, and her beautiful spirit!

Welcome back home to the carpet, Laura! 🕊️❤️

11/06/2026

Some videos don’t need an explanation—the music, the movement, and the pure magic speak for themselves. ✨

Watch Helin Yakut, one of our incredible Kurdish students, singing Jose Feliciano’s "The Gypsy" alongside her teacher and friend, Sahba Aminikia. 🎶 Woven beautifully into this soulful moment is a joyful, whimsical dance between the founder of Sirkhane Social Circus School, Pinar Demiral , and our very own giant puppet Shekshekar, created by our own genius Soheila Bajelan 💃🎨. Thanks to our own Shayan Shariat who taught Shekshekar to Dance! 😉❤️

https://www.flyingcarpetfestival.org/donate

Helin is one of the most courageous, persistent, and talented Circus and Music Heroes of Sirkhane Social Circus School and Flying Carpet. She has been a beloved part of our family for the last 8 years, growing with us since the very day Flying Carpet was initiated.

Our deepest hope is for our children to look beyond language and nationality, experiencing the profound freedom of being citizens of the world. Children's choirs are one of the most powerful tools we have to build community, empower inner voices, and encourage kids to sing solo—a feat that is deeply intimidating even for adults. Yet, our children step up with the wisdom, curiosity, and courage that defines the very essence of life.

After spending the entire summer of 2025 working with two vibrant children's choirs in the Istasyon neighborhood of Mardin and Kiziltepe (who rocked three festival locations before our big show!), we are so excited for what’s next. This year, we are continuing our activities with the children in Istasyon, and they will be performing in 3–4 locations during the upcoming Flying Carpet Festival! 🎪

A huge thank you to José Feliciano for creating beautiful songs that resonate across decades and centuries.

We don't think any words can fully capture the spirit of this video. Viva Flying Carpet and our message of love, beauty, and the unity of mankind! ❤️🌍

Gorgeous video: Özgür Mert, Nika Braun

10/06/2026

We are absolutely honored to welcome Naghmeh Forouzan .foroozan, a visionary art educator and creative facilitator from Iran, to the Flying Carpet 2026 collective! 🇮🇷🎨🎭

Naghmeh brings nearly a decade of experience working with children, weaving together an extraordinary tapestry of artistic disciplines to create spaces where imagination, relationships, and human potential can thrive.

🏛️ From Designing Buildings to Building Imaginations
With an academic background in architecture, Naghmeh originally trained to design physical structures. However, her passion naturally drew her toward designing educational spaces. Instead of concrete and steel, she now builds worlds out of visual arts, storytelling, music, singing, play, theatre, and design thinking.

🧦 Gigili the Puppet & Theme-Based Magic
Naghmeh’s workshops are immersive journeys. Most of her projects are built around a central story or theme that invites children to explore big ideas through hands-on making, collaborating, and reflecting. For the past three years, she has been joined by a very special co-facilitator:

Meet Gigili! A beloved puppet character who has become an important companion in her workshops. Gigili helps children tackle artistic challenges through humor, curiosity, and open dialogue. 🕵️‍♂️✨

🕊️ Honoring the Wisdom of Children
Rather than focusing purely on the final artistic outcome, Naghmeh designs processes that deeply value participation and meaningful connection. She holds a beautiful belief that children carry the exact qualities the world needs most: openness, honesty, imagination, and a natural capacity for connection.

Naghmeh joins the festival with the hope of creating moments of pure joy, collaboration, and shared discovery across cultures. We cannot wait to see the magic she and Gigili bring to the children of Mardin!

Welcome to the family, Naghmeh! 🕊️❤️

09/06/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to spotlight the incredibly talented and inspiring Sevin İsmail (.77_ ) for Flying Carpet 2026! 🎪👗✨

Born in 2006 in Al-Dirbasiyah, Syria, and has been living in Turkey since 2013, Sevin represents the beautiful, transformative power of social circus and community. Her journey is a testament to how art can shape a life and, in turn, uplift an entire community. Sevin is a pillar of Flying Carpet community since 2022 and she is one of the senior Circus Heroes. Circus Heroes are those who persistently and vigorously combat the hardships of life, war, and the challenges of seeking refuge. Not only do they endure these adversities, but they also emerge as shining role models for other children facing similar circumstances.

🎪 From Student to Social Circus Leader
Sevin began her journey with the Sirkhane back in 2015, initially joining as a curious young student. Over the last decade, her passion for the circus arts flourished, leading her to transition into a vital role as a social circus trainer. Today, she works as a dedicated volunteer, sharing her hard-earned skills, joy, and hope with children and communities in need. 🤝❤️

💫 Center Stage Performer
Sevin isn’t just an incredible teacher behind the scenes—she is also a powerhouse on stage! She regularly shines in Flying Carpet Festival, professional circus shows, captivating audiences and showcasing her diverse talents across a wide variety of circus disciplines.

🧵 Blending Circus with Fashion Design
Alongside her deep commitment to the arts, Sevin is fiercely dedicated to her education and is currently studying Fashion Design. Her ambition is to beautifully weave her eye for fashion and design with her love for performance, creating a unique blend of creativity and social impact. Sevin is a dynamic, brilliant force both on and off the carpet, and we are so proud to have her inspiring presence at the festival once again this year!

Welcome to the stage, Sevin! 🕊️🔥

08/06/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the wonderfully creative Darya Beliayeva .cre8s to the Flying Carpet 2026 family for her very first year at the festival! 🎨💄✨

Darya is an artist and makeup stylist who carries a deep passion for fashion, style, and the art of transformation. She sees the human face and body as a canvas for storytelling, bringing a vibrant, fresh energy to our collective this year.

🎨 The Art of Transformation
For Darya, makeup styling is much more than aesthetics—it is a powerful tool for connection. Her artistic mission is built around:

Bringing Beauty & Happiness: Using her creative skills to uplift spirits, boost confidence, and paint smiles on the faces of everyone she works with. 😊❤️

Fashion & Style: Infusing a sense of contemporary flair, design, and colorful imagination into her visual concepts.

🌍 Exploring the World
Darya’s creativity is deeply fueled by her love for travel. By exploring different cultures, landscapes, and perspectives across the globe, she constantly gathers new inspiration to bring back to her art.

As she steps onto the carpet for the first time, we can’t wait to see how Darya shares her passion, warmth, and transformative visual magic with the youth and communities in Mardin!

Welcome to the festival family, Darya! 🕊️✨

Flying Carpet Festival

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