A retired Georgian teacher searching for her long-lost niece in Istanbul finds herself in this transformative city where others go to lose themselves.

On the coast of the Black Sea in Batumi, Georgia, Lia (Mzia Arabuli) is looking for her long-lost niece, Tekla. At Tekla’s old address, Lia meets Achi (Lucas Kankava), a bored, wayward youth looking for any escape from his violent household. The two make an unlikely pair as they travel to Istanbul in search of Tekla. It's here in the bustling city, in the cramped, impoverished quarters, where the two continue their search. In Istanbul, the film also follows Evrim (Deniz Dumanli), a lawyer fighting for trans rights. With Evrim’s help, the two come closer to finding Tekla. This is the fourth film from Levan Akin, who wowed audiences with his critically acclaimed 2019 film And Then We Danced. Crossing continues Akin’s exploration of cultural divides in this corner of Europe. Winner of the Teddy Jury Award at Berlinale, this powerful film will tug your heart strings until the very end.