The 7th Montreal Turkish Film Festival successfully closed on May 14th
The 7th Montreal Turkish Film Festival which made its opening with the film “I Loved You So Much” of Orhan Tekeoglu, continued with the film “Will You Play With Me?” of Aydin Bulut which tells the story of çArsi team, the supporter group of the Besiktas football club who is faced with the destruction of the environment of the people.
Thereafter, the audience had the privilege of seeing the films “A Holly Day” of Serdar Temizkan in which Ali Düsenkalkar and Arda Kural played the lead roles, and the “Mute” of Semir Aslanyürek, dedicated to the famous film director Yilmaz Güney who died in Paris in 1984.
In the movie “A Holly Day” the audience saw one day of the two brothers who were unemployed for some time and were seeking a way out of the impasse, while the “Mute” telling an epic journey of two teenagers who wanted to go and take picture of the legendary filmmaker Yilmaz Güney.
The film “Crimean” of Burak Can Arliel, based of Cengiz Dagci’s “The Frightful Years” novel, in which Murat Yildirim and Selma Ergeç played, told the human tragedy and suffering of the Crimean Turks who were taken hostage as prisoners of war in German camps during World War II.
The 7th Montreal Turkish Film Festival made its closing with the movie “You Tell Them About Me” of Mahur Özmen in which Kürsat Alniaçik and Gerçek Saglar Alniaçik played as the lead roles. The story of the movie was about the difficulties of a family at the coup of 12 September era.
During the Festival, the audience had the opportunity to meet filmmaker Semir Aslanyürek knowing by his films “Chellalé” and “The road to the house”, the director-actor Ali Düsenkalkar, director Ali Ihtiyar and actors Kürsat Alniaçik, Gerçek Saglar Alniaçik as well.
In the short film section, Montreal moviegoers have seen the movies “A Single Strawberry-Topped Cake”, the “Head”, the “Showcase”, the “Raw Tomatoes,” the “Clean”, “There Is A Thief!” and “Mama”; and in the documentary section, the “Mysterious Stones of Hakkâri”, the “Mountain of Servants” and “Nail V.”.
And The Awards
Audience Award to «Will You Play With Me?»
At the closing awards were announced. While the film “Will You Play With Me?” won the Audience Award, the “Clean” got the award for Best Short Film, and the movie “Nail V.” got the Best Documentary Award.
The Director Aydin Bulut and the lead actress of the film “Will You Play With Me?” Eysan Özhim sent their message about the Audience Award: “This award we just win gave us new dreams and emotion of joy to make new films. The shooting of our film that lasted five weeks had ended on 22 May 2013. While we were preparing for editing, Gezi Events began. Those who were told in the movie were happening in the streets. By historical coincidence, feelings of our film and resistance Gezi were intertwined.
The difficulties and inhibitions that we experienced during the shooting, were amplified with Gezi Resistance. Our film “Will You Play With Me?” has not joined the number of audience deserved. That’s why we are proud by the “Audience Award” is gained at festivals. We especially thank the Montreal Turkish Film Festival and our viewers.”
Best Short Film Award to «Clean»
As for Sevket Onur Cihan, the director of “Clean” which won the Best Short Film Award shared his feelings about the award and here what he told: “This award to the film “Clean” I turned adapting to England from a real history in Turkey means a lot to me. The echo on another continent in this film about pre-judgment, draws attention to a universal dimension of this problem. I thank those who had selected for this award by watching the film that may be difficult to understand.”
Best Documentary Award to «Nail V.»
Kurtulus Özgen, director of the documentary film “Nail V.” also sent a message: “I am delighted because “Nail V.” was selected as the Best Documentary at the Montreal Turkish Film Festival. I thank the members of the jury who gave me this award. I find that Documentary Cinema is very useful because it makes visible those which are not, because it gives the opportunity to understand and make understanding of social phenomena, because it records in history that disappears, because it keeps in the avant-garde and that really gives me to do “independent” cinema. Therefore, the organization of the documentary competition of the Montreal Turkish Film Festival is very important to us, the filmmakers who make documentaries. I thank from my heart the Festival Committee, volunteers, and those who follow the Festival.”
The faithful fans of the public have rushed to see all the films in the Montreal Turkish Film Festival and met the guests actors and actresses.
The President of the Montreal Turkish Film Festival Ömer Özen, who made a short speech at the Closing thanked the participants, sponsors, volunteers and the audience. Mr. Özen has added that the survival of the Festival is due to moviegoers, to the supports of the community and audience, because it received no government backing.
At closing, the representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Communications of Québec, the Consulate General of Turkey in Québec and the Permanent Delegation of Turkey near the International Civil Aviation Organization and the audience participated. Invited actors, actresses and directors received the plates in honour of participating to the Festival, and the Association of Turkish Women of Montreal offered them flowers.
7th Montreal Turkish Cultural – Gallery»
Bizim Anadolu / June 2015