Golden Dolphins” were granted at the 8th Bosphorus Film Festival
Having hosted the cinephiles in accordance with the social distancing rules in the movie theatres between October 23-30 with the slogan #AgainstAllOdds; at 8th Bosphorus Film Festival’s award ceremony held in the evening of October 30, winners of Golden Dolphin have been announced.
Organized by Bosphorus Culture & Art Foundation with the contribution of Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cinema, and support of Global Communication Partner; Anadolu Agency, 8th Bosphorus Film Festival – held between October 23 and 30 – was concluded with the award ceremony held tonight (October 30) at Feriye movie theatre. “Kumbara” directed by Ferit Karol has been selected as the Best Film at the National Feature Competition, winning the Golden Dolphin Award worth 100,000 TL. And at the International Feature Competition, Svetla Tsotsorkova’s “Sister” has been selected as the Best Film. In addition, the winning projects of Bosphorus Film Lab have also been announced. The ceremony has been presented by Elif Bereketli.
Bringing to the Istanbulite cinephiles the outstanding latest productions, this year a total of 60 films from 30 countries have been showcased. Film crews, invited guests and press members attended the award ceremony that was organized in compliance with the pandemic rules. Opening speech of the night was made by Bosphorus Film Festival Artistic Director Emrah Kilic. Having started his speech by saying “We could not have realized the festival if wasn’t for you”, Kilic mentioned that it was very important for them to make a physical festival edition and they succeeded in realizing one. Thanking the jury members who have watched and judged the films and to the cinephiles who have filled the halls, Kilic also acknowledged all the sponsors for their moral and financial support and particularly Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism and TRT. “I would also like to thank my festival team. It is very precious for us that in such delicate conditions, they have done all they could have in the organization of the festival,” said Kilic and noted that they are going to support the festivals and movie theatres. Emphasizing that they have realized the festival in extremely challenging conditions and pandemic continues to have a profound effect on the film industry, Kilic expressed his wish to see altogether the films at liberty in movie theatres in the earliest time.
Best National Film of the Year is “Kumbara / Penny Bank”
Chaired by the writer, scriptwriter and producer Tarik Tufan, and composed of members; director Ramin Matin, cinematographer Taner Tokgoz, actress Ipek Turktan Kaynak and actress Ecem Uzun; National Feature Film Competition Jury has selected “Kumbara / Penny Bank” directed by Ferit Karol as the best national film of the year. Having received his award from Tarik Tufan, Ferit Karol said ”It had taken eight years to write the script. And I would like to thank everyone who have supported me throughout the process, and especially my crew.”
Winning the Golden Dolphin Award worth 100,000 TL, “Kumbara / Penny Bank” also brought the Best Screenplay Award to Ferit Karol, Best Female Actor Award to Gulcin Kultur Sahin and Best Male Actor Award to Murat Kilic. After receiving her award, Gulcin Kultur Sahin said “I would like to thank especially to the jury members, and to my director Ferit Karol and my acting partner Murat Kilic. And after receiving Best Male Actor Award, Murat Kilic said “I owe this award not only to my performance, but also to our interaction with Gulcin. We all stayed at home for a long while, and our greatest occupation was to watch movies. Hence, filmmakers were much needed in this period.” Best Director Award has been presented to Erdem Tepegoz for his film “Gölgeler İçinde / In the Shadows”. After receiving his award, Tepegoz said “These awards encourage me to make good films. I would like to thank the jury members for their decision.” And Best Cinematography Award went to Hayk Kirakosyan with “Golgeler Icinde / In the Shadows”. And Jury Special Award went to Mavzer / Mauser directed by Fatih Ozcan who said “This film would not be made if it wasn’t for the stories my mother and father had told me in the long winter nights. I would like to present my heartfelt gratitude especially to them, and also to my crew.” And Firat Terzioglu won Best Editing Award with the film “Gelincik / Weasel”.
For FIYAB Production Award worth 10,000 TL, debut and sophomore film producers were judged. FIYAB (Film Producers Professional Association) jury members Alper Tunga Ozdemir, Nazif Tunc and Metin Tuncturk have selected Enes Erbay as the Best Producer with the film “Mavzer / Mauser”.
And Fatih Ozcan, director of “Mavzer / Mauser” was granted by the jury members of Film Directors Association; Mehmet Eryilmaz, Melisa Onel and Selim Evci with FILM-YON Best Director Award that is granted for the first time this year.
The Best International Feature Film Award Went to “Sister”
The International Feature Film Competition Jury comprised of Ismet Sijarina, Nariman Aliyev, Anna Katchko and Zlatko Vidackovic under the chairmanship of Joanna Kos-Krauze, determined director Svetla Tsotsorkova’s film “Sister” as the winner of the Gold Dolphin which is at a value of TL 50,000. In addition, the film brought Monika Naydenova the Best Actress Award, and Asen Blatechky the Best Actor Award.
In the competition, Chiara Bellosi won the Best Director Award from the International Feature Film Competition Jury with her film “Ordinary Justice”. The Jury Special Award, on the other side, went to Ensar Altay with his film “Kodokushi”.
The Support Given to Short Films Continued Also This Year
Under the 8th Bosphorus Film Festival’s National and International Short Film as well as National and International Short Documentary Competitions, awards at a total value of TL 70,000 were given to the winners. The jury comprised of Banu Sıvacı, Cihan Sağlam and Murat Tolga Şen selected the film “Tapınak (the Temple)” by Murat Uğurlu in the National Competition, and the film “Good Night” by Anthony Nti in the International Competition, as the Best Fiction Film.
The Jury members, further selected Malaz Usta’s film “Sürgünde Bir Yıl (A Year in Exile)” under the national competition, and Alex Evstigneev’s “The Golden Buttons” in the international competition as the Best Short Documentary in scope of the Short Documentary Competitions. Francesca Canepa’s film “The Slince of the River” won Ahmet Uluçay Grand Award having the value of TL 25.000-, while the winner of Istanbul Media Academy’s Young Talent Award with a TL 5,000- monetary prize was Zeynep Dilan Süren’s short film called “Büyük İstanbul Depresyonu (The Great Istanbul Depression)”.
Bosphorus Film Lab’s Support to the National Cinema
Winners of the Bosphorus Film Lab that is organized with the corporate business partnership of the Turkish Radio and Television Association (“TRT”) were also announced on the same night.
The jury members – Per Eirik Gilsvik, Frederic Boyer, and Faruk Güven – evaluated 12 projects under the pitching category. Under the pitching category, TRT Co-Production Award went to the project named “Kuşlar Yasına Gider (Birds Fly to Mourn)” which is produced by Müge Büyüktalaş and directed by Ali Aydın, while the Postbıyık Color Design Award was granted to the project named “Karine (Presumption)” that is produced by M. Tarık Ötgen and directed by Bilal Petek.
The jury comprised of Bernd Buder, Anne Delseth and Serdar Can assessed 7 projects in Work in Progress category. Under the Work in Progress category, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism Special Award having a value of TL 25,000- went to the project named “Kar ve Ayı (Snow and the Bear)” that is produced together by Nefes Polat and Selcen Ergun and directed by Selcen Ergun, while the CGV Mars Film Distribution Award was granted to the project called “Eflatun” which is both produced and directed by Cüneyt Karakuş.
The 8th BOSPHORUS FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS
NATIONAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
The Best National Feature Film Award (TL 100,000): Kumbara / Penny Bank (Ferit Karol)
The Best Director Award (TL 20,000): Erdem Tepegöz (Gölgeler İçinde / In the Shadows)
The Best Actress Award (TL 15,000): Gülçin Kültür Şahin (Kumbara / Penny Bank)
The Best Actor Award (TL 15,000): Murat Kılıç (Kumbara / Penny Bank)
The Best Screenplay Award (TL 10,000): Ferit Karol (Kumbara / Penny Bank)
The Best Cinematography Award (TL 10,000): Hayk Kirakosyan (Gölgeler İçinde / In the Shadows)
The Best Film Editing Award (TL 10,000): Fırat Terzioğlu (Gelincik / Weasel)
The Jury Special Award (TL …): Mavzer / Mauser Rifle (Fatih Özcan)
FİYAB (Film Producers’ Professional Association) Best Director Award (TL 10,000): Enes Erbay (Mavzer / Mauser Rifle)
FİLM-YÖN (Film Directors’ Union) The Best Director Award: Fatih Özcan (Mavzer / Mauser Rifle)
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
The Best Feature Film Award (TL 50,000): Kız Kardeş / Sister (Svetla Tsotsorkova)
The Best Director Award (TL 15,000): Chiara Bellosi (Adliye / Ordinary Justice)
The Best Actress Award (TL 10,000): Monika Naydenova (Kız Kardeş / Sister)
The Best Actor Award (TL 10,000): Asen Blatechky (Kız Kardeş / Sister)
The Jury Special Award (TL 10,000): Kodokushi (Ensar Altay)
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SHORT FICTION AND DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
The Best National Short Fiction Film Award (TL 10,000): Tapınak / The Temple (Murat Uğurlu)
The Best National Short Documentary Award (TL 10,000): Sürgünde Bir Yıl / A Year In Exile (Malaz Usta)
The Best International Short Fiction Film Award (TL 10,000): İyi Geceler / Good Night (Anthony Nti)
The Best International Short Documentary Award (TL 10,000): Altın Düğmeler / The Golden Buttons (Alex Evstigneev)
Ahmet Uluçay Grand Award (TL 25,000): Nehrin Sessizliği / The Silence of the River (Francesca Canepa)
Istanbul Media Academy Young Talent Award (TL 5,000): Büyük İstanbul Depresyonu / The Great Istanbul Depression (Zeynep Dilan Süren)
BOSPHORUS FILM LAB AWARDS
Pitching Category
TRT Co-Production Award: Kuşlar Yasına Gider (Birds Fly to Mourn)
Director: Ali Aydın
Producer: Müge Büyüktalaş
PostBıyık Color Design Award: Karine (Presumption)
Director: Bilal Petek
Producer: M. Tarık Ötgen
Work in Progress Category
Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism Special Award (TL 25,000): Kar ve Ayı (Snow and the Bear)
Director: Selcen Ergun
Producer: Nefes Polat and Selcen Ergun
CGV Mars Film Distribution Award: Eflatun
Director: Cüneyt Karakuş