Short Film – WORLD TURTLE (Post-Production)
Written & Directed by Omer Yilmaz
Formerly titled: A Leavitt and A Merica

World Turtle is a coming-of-age short film that explores the concept of “home”.

At the heart of the story are two 12-year-olds from very different worlds:

Leavitt is a tough, guarded boy who’s never known a stable roof over his head. Life, as far as he’s learned, is about surviving; and fighting. Inspired by boxing and idolizing Muhammad Ali, Leavitt believes strength means keeping your fists up and your emotions in check.

Merica, by contrast, is a free-spirited and curious girl, fascinated by turtles and full of playful energy. When she spots Leavitt struggling to carry a mattress up to a third-floor apartment, she boldly inserts herself into his life; curious, mischievous, and without hesitation. What follows is a quiet unraveling of defenses, as Merica’s presence gently redefines Leavitt’s ideas about strength, belonging, and what it truly means to have a home.

Director’s Note
World Turtle is an exploration of inner and outer landscapes; how the places we live reflect the emotional states we inhabit, and how home is less about shelter and more about connection. With gentle humor, quiet tension, and emotional warmth, the film reminds us that, like turtles, we carry our homes in our hearts.

This film is a meditation on rootlessness, resilience, and the transformative power of human connection; told through the eyes of two children discovering not just each other, but a deeper understanding of what it means to belong.

In a world marked by displacement; whether physical, emotional, or cultural; World Turtle asks: What if home isn’t a place we find, but something we carry with us?