The documentary UNSEEN: The Athletes of Northern Cyprus, which explores the challenges and international sporting isolation faced by Turkish Cypriot athletes, has been released in full on the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus YouTube channel.
The hour-long film became available to audiences on 9 November 2026, following its premiere at The Soho Hotel in London on 1 November. The premiere attracted more than 100 guests, including Türkiye's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Koray Ertaş, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ambassador, Aysan Mullahasan Atılgan.
Directed by Afzal Choudhury of NoPlayBook, presented by Mert Ahmet and executive produced by Eren Ramadan, the documentary comes from the team behind OFFSIDE and DISPLACED.
Stories of Sporting Exclusion
Featuring 21 participants from nine sporting disciplines, including athletics, tennis, boxing, basketball, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, open-water swimming, drifting and football, the film examines the obstacles faced by athletes from Northern Cyprus.
Among those featured are Olympic high jumper Buse Savaşkan, European U18 800m champion Ada Kafa, two-time EuroLeague champion Erten Gazi, professional boxer Sugar Atahasan and open-water swimmer Doğukan Ulaç. The documentary also includes Orçun Kamalı, President of the TRNC National Olympic Committee.
Through personal accounts, UNSEEN highlights athletes who have reportedly faced competition bans, visa refusals and exclusion from international tournaments because of their birthplace.
The film also explores how some Turkish Cypriot athletes have pursued international careers by representing Türkiye or other countries, rather than competing under their own national identity.
A Call for International Recognition
Executive Producer Eren Ramadan emphasised the importance of bringing these experiences to a wider audience.
"These athletes are not unseen because they lack talent. They are unseen because the world has chosen not to look. We encourage everyone to watch the documentary, share it and help these stories reach a wider audience," Ramadan said.
Produced with the support of the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus campaign, the documentary seeks to raise awareness of the barriers facing Turkish Cypriot athletes and encourage discussion about fairness and equal opportunities in international sport.
UNSEEN: The Athletes of Northern Cyprus is now available to watch free of charge on YouTube.
