The TRT co-production documentary “Forever Thirty-Three”, which tells the story of the Turkish Diyanet Foundation (TDV) Encyclopedia of Islam, had its world premiere at the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF).

The documentary spotlights the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, the first original encyclopedia written and completed within the Islamic world chronicling the 15-century odyssey of Islamic culture and civilization. This documentary received its inaugural showcase to cinema enthusiasts at the Sarajevo Film Festival in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The Encyclopedia serves as a gateway to accurate information within the Islamic world”, stated Prof. Dr. Murteza Bedir, the Head of the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation Centre for Islamic Studies (ISAM). He highlighted that the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, composed over 33 years spanning 44 volumes, carries significant value. Bedir emphasized, “It's immensely gratifying to possess a resource that provides precise insights into Islam, both within the Islamic world and in Türkiye. The fact that Türkiye achieved this accomplishment is especially meaningful.”

The TDV Encyclopedia of Islam 

As relayed by ISAM, the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam stands as the pioneering encyclopedia globally, produced and completed by Muslims. This unique work bears originality and holds the copyright for its article listings, content, and stylistic approach. Created through a 33-year endeavor spanning 1983 to 2016, this monumental 44-volume encyclopedia earned recognition from the Presidency in 2014 and the Turkish Academy of Sciences in 2019.