İmroz’da Bahar Title Sparks Debate Over Gökçeada’s Name

The title of the new Turkish film İmroz’da Bahar (Spring in Imroz) has drawn criticism before its release. Social media users say it uses the island’s old name, İmroz, instead of its official name, Gökçeada, where the film was shot. Milliyet reported the debate on 23 October 2026.

The film is a Sky Films production, directed by Özcan Alper and starring Halit Ergenç and Meryem Uzerli. According to Milliyet, it is planned to reach audiences in more than 50 countries. That international reach is a main reason the title has become a point of discussion.

What critics say about the İmroz’da Bahar title

According to Milliyet, many users questioned why an international release would present a district of Çanakkale under a former name. Some asked the production team to correct the title. Others argued that Gökçeada should not be pushed into the background in international promotion.

Some comments were far sharper and described the older name as an insult to national sovereignty. These are the views of social media users as reported by Milliyet. The production team has not been quoted in the report, and I found no public response from Sky Films.

Historians weigh in on Gökçeada and İmroz

Historian Prof. Dr. Erhan Afyoncu told Milliyet that the official name is Gökçeada and that it should be used. He compared the case with a Greek producer using the old Turkish name of a town in Greece, which he said would be unlikely.

Historian Hasan Mert Kaya took a more nuanced view. He said İmroz is the island’s past name, while Gökçeada reflects its present identity. In his view, the old name may suit a period film, but contemporary works should use the current name. He also pointed to Bozcaada, whose ancient name was Tenedos.

Why the island has two names

Gökçeada is Türkiye’s largest island, in the Aegean Sea off the Çanakkale coast. Milliyet notes that its official name has been Gökçeada since 1970. İmroz is the older Turkish form of the name, and the island is also known as Imbros in English and Greek-language contexts.

The two names carry different associations for different readers. Mr. Kaya’s remark that names are “a field of memory” captures why the choice matters to some viewers. For others, the older name simply reflects the island’s layered history.

The film’s story, as described in other Turkish reports, follows two people with pasts whose paths cross on the island. Those reports also list an English title, Spring in Imroz, for a festival screening. I could not confirm a release date or platform from official channels.

What to watch next

The central open question is whether the producers will respond or change the title. Nothing in the Milliyet report suggests a change is planned. For now, the debate remains a public discussion about naming, not a decision by the production.

Readers who follow Turkish drama may also want to see where else Halit Ergenç appears in a historical setting, such as Mehmed: Sultan of Conquests. That link is only a viewing guide and has no connection to the film’s title dispute.

Source: Milliyet
Featured image: Haberler, Son Dakika Haberleri ve Güncel Haber | Milli Gazet