A STRONG TURKEY IN BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL!
Being one of the most prestigious festivals in the world, the 69th Berlin Film Festival took place between 7-17 February this year. In Berlinale -that hosts two films from Turkey in its festival program-, the most recent film of Emin Alper, Kız Kardeşler (Sisters), who achieved a great success with his films called ‘Tepenin Ardı (Behind the Hill)’ and ‘Abluka (Blockade)’ competed for the Golder Bear in the main contest which is the most important section of the festival. Emin Alper’s third feature film, Kız Kardeşler (Sisters), tells the story of two sisters who were sent to town as servant girls and who later returned to their villages after long years. This year, there were 23 films in the main contest; while 17 films competed for the Golden and Silver Bear, 6 films were disqualified.
One of the films which were competing for the Golden Bear and attracted attention belonged to the German director of Turkish decent, Fatih Akın. Fatih Akın’s latest film, Der Goldene Handschuh (The Golden Glove), tells the story of a serial killer named Fritz Honka and takes place in Hamburg in the 70’s.
Another film to represent Turkey this year in Berlinale was Burak Çevik’s lastest film, Aidiyet (Belonging), which preferred using different methods of expression in cinema and making trials in this regard. The new film of Burak Çevik, whose film called Tuzdan Kaide (The Pillar of Salt) was in the Forum division of Berlinale last year, was also in the Forum division of the festival this year. Aidiyet (Belonging ), is circling around a homicide and love that takes place in Istanbul.
The European Film Market, on the other hand, which is organized in parallel with the Berlin Film Festival, took place between 7-15 February this year. Organization of the Turkey Desk which was formed with the support of Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the General Directorate of Cinema, this year too was carried out by the International Bosphorus Cinema Association just like the last year.
Catalogues, promotion materials, and screening materials comprised of feature films, short films and documentaries were distributed at the Turkey Desk which aims contributing to positive promotion of Turkey and promotion of Turkish cinema in international arena, to those who visited the desk, and people from both the national and international cinema industry as well as the industry professionals were hosted.
Among the films, special screenings of which were made in the festival’s market division, there were Mehmet Bahadır Er and Maryna Er Gorbach’s latest film ‘Omar Ve Biz (Omar and Us)’, İsmail Fidan’s feature animation film called Rafadan Tayfa: Dehliz Macerası (Soft-boiled Team: Tunnel Adventure), Umut Aral’s İyi Oyun (Good Game), Osman Kaya’s Deliler (Mad People), and Burak Çevik’s Aidiyet (Belonging) which was also under the Forum division of the festival.
For the Project Market of the Berlinale Talents section that is organized by the Berlin Film Festival in order to discover and support the new talents, the feature film project called ‘Kesilmiş Bir Ağaç Gibi (Like A Limbless Tree)’ which will be produced by Sinem Altındağ and will be directed by Tunç Davut was selected this year from Turkey.
TRT’s (Turkish Radio and Television Association) Berlinale Expedition!
In the Drama Series Days section of the 69th Berlin Film Festival, which focuses on television shows and series, TRT too found a place for itself this year. In scope of the program, a showcase special for the audience was prepared under the title of “Turkish Drama” through which TRT’s new and latest successful series Diriliş: Ertuğrul (Revival:Ertuğrul), Halka (Ring) and Tek Yürek (A Single Heart) were promoted. The moderator of the organization under the festival’s official program was TRT’s Co-production and External Production Manager, Faruk Güven. Following the presentation took place on 12 February at Zoo Palast, also a special reception was held.