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Oscar Excitement In the 2nd Hollywood Turkish Films with the film Commitment Aslı

Oscar Excitement In the 2nd Hollywood Turkish Films with the film Commitment Aslı

The closing film of the 2nd Hollywood Turkish Films Festival organized in Los Angeles, USA, was Turkey’s Oscar-nominated film “Commitment (Bağlılık Aslı)” which was directed by Semih Kaplanoğlu.

In the closing ceremony of the 2nd Hollywood Turkish Films Festival that is organized with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and with the cooperation of the International Bosphorus Cinema Association, during the 92th Academy Awards, Turkey’s “Commitment (Bağlılık Aslı)” was nominated for Oscars in the Foreign Language category.

The premiere night that started with the red carpet ceremony held at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Los Angeles, USA, hosted Turkey’s Los Angeles Consul General, Can Oğuz, the Golden Globe President, Lorenzo Soria and the Vice President, Ali Sar, President of the 2nd Hollywood Turkish Films Festival, Ogün Şanlıer, director Semih Kaplanoğlu, director Uğur Uludağ, producer Mustafa Karadeniz, director Eylem Kaftan, actress Yasemin Allen, Anadolu Agency’s (AA) Culture and Art News Editor, Bünyamin Yılmaz, as well as other significant names from the American and Turkish cinema industry.

Director Kaplanoğlu who attended the closing ceremony thanked to Turkey’s Los Angeles Consul General, Can Oğuz, and Barbaros Tapan who made great efforts for the organization, and stated as follows: “The film you will watch in a short while is Turkey’s Oscar-nominated film and also is the first film of the triology ‘Commitment (Bağlılık)’. The film was produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as the Asia Pacific Film Academy’s support in the screenplay writing. I shot the second film, Commitment – Hasan (Bağlılık Hasan) this summer. It is in editing process now. I hope it will be finished in the spring time. I hope you all enjoy the film.”

By highlighting that his works regarding the Oscar awards still continue, he said:“It is the 4th time that I am visiting Los Angeles. And it is the 2nd time that we come for the Oscar awards. Before, we were here for the film ‘Bal (Honey)’. Each time I visit, I see a more interesting and different aspect. This time, we are a little bit more experienced.”

Stating that they spent seven days time in Los Angeles to the fullest, Kübra Kip, who portrayed Aslı in the film Commitment – Aslı said as follows: “There are many screenings and interviews taking place. We receive many positive feedback. I find international festivals quite exciting because it really fascinates me to see how people from different cultures approach your world. Thanks to these kind of organizations, people become more familiar with the Turkish cinema and this, too, is very pleasing.”

In addition to this, the Golden Globe President, Lorenzo Soria, first indicated that he is not an expert in the Turkish cinema, and later said: “Years ago I was the jury chairman in the International Bosphorus Film Festival. Even the Turkish actress Belçim Bilgin, who is with us at the moment, was accompanying me in the jury. It gave me an opportunity to discover the Turkish cinema. I came by numerous interesting and high-quality films. Therefore, I feel honored for being with you here today. Thank you for inviting me.”

Soria said that he wishes all cinema lovers -who will watch the film Bağlılık Aslı (Commitment – Aslı)- a great time , and added: “I think this is a great opportunity for people from Los Angeles to be acquainted with the Turkish cinema.”

“Hollywood Turkish Films Festival” Will Become A Brand In Los Angeles

Making an interview with the AA’s (Anadolu Agency) reporter following the event, Consul General Can Oğuz explained that he finds this kind of festivals important in terms of Turkish cinema making a name for itself, and then expressed as follows: “It is very important to have a consistent festival in a city like Los Angeles, which is a hub for the cinema. Therefore, it is very flattering. At the same, it is very exciting for us to see that our culture finds a place for itself in a multi-cultural place like this through cinema.”

Stressing that the audience in the hall gave positive reactions to the film Commitment – Aslı, and added: “The film is very realistic. It is indeed a universal story in which everyone can find a piece from himself/herself, and is portrayed in a powerful way. We hope that we receive good news in the upcoming days about the recognition of the film.” Stating that the Turkish cinema and series became much more popular lately, Oğuz said that they should be a lot more hopeful due to the great interest that people show to the series.

The director of the 2nd Hollywood Turkish Films Festival, Barbaros Tapan, expressed that he was very happy for organizing the second one of the festival and said:

“I believe this festival is a very important organization for the Turkish cinema, actors/actresses and producers. We are at Hollywood’s heart, at the Academy building. The God permitted us and we screened our film here. I hope that we can do it for the third time, the fourth time and for many more times. This is a team work. Today we are here as the result of efforts given by the festival’s president, Ogün Şanlıer, as well as all our team. Our aim to improve the festival. “Hollywood Turkish Films Festival” must become a brand in Los Angeles. We will work for that.”

“Thanks to these kind of organizations, Turkish cinema is becoming more famous”

Japanese-American actor Rick Kumazawa also stated that he had been in Turkey many times before and that he loves Turkey, and then added: “My girlfriend is from Eastern Europe and she grew up by watching the Turkish series. Many times we watched Turkish series together with her mother. I feel very happy for being in Hollywood at the Turkish Films Festival.”

On the other hand, actor Rome Kanda who portrayed Dr.Muramoto in the series called ‘Maniac’, expressed as follows: “I met Barbaros Tapan in the premiere of Maniac. He introduced this beautiful festival with me, and we came here. We love Turkish films and also the Ottomans. In the recent months, I gave an interview to a television program broadcasted on the TV channel TRT2. So, I am now famous in Turkey.”

Also, actress Belçim Bilgin expressed that the festival is very valuable for making it possible for the right films to meet the right audience, and said: “I hope that the festival becomes consistent and serves for the cinema for many long years to come.”

Actress Büşra Pekin said that she was in Los Angeles in the first festival and that she feels proud to be in Los Angeles again for the second one, and then added: “I think this festival is a very important step taken towards the future for our country and our cinema. I thank all who gave their efforts in this process.”

Director Eylem Kaftan stated that she believes it is a correct timing to organize the Hollywood Turkish Films Festival during November, and added:

“Because November and December are the months during which many directors and professionals from the cinema industry enter into a fierce competition right before the Oscar awards in order to include their films in this competition for the Oscar awards; during which an exciting competition takes place thanks to the hundreds and thousands of screenings performed by these directors and professionals; and during which they present their films to the jury. Today, I experienced this myself. I went to watch the screening of an Oscar-nominated film. There, I witnessed the joy and excitement of the director. It was a great experience for me to share this atmosphere and to understand how things operate in here – where the heart of the world cinema beats.”

Actor Kerem Bürsin, who shared the information that he was in the preparation process for a series to be broadcasted on a digital platform in USA, said: “I feel proud to be in this building and in Hollywood.”

Actress Melisa Şenolsun stressed that Hollywood is the heart of the cinema industry, and said that she wishes the festival that she attended to support to continue for long years. Şenolsun also shared the following information about her upcoming projects:

“The film called ‘Güzelliğin Portresi (Portrait of Beauty)’ which we filmed with BKM is now getting ready for the screen. We also have a series that we filmed for Netflix, Atiye. I am waiting for them to be screened and hopefully it will be soon; so, I feel very excited and am looking forward to it.”

Also, a mini music recital -which included musical pieces from the Turkish music- was performed after the screening of the film “Commitment-Aslı (Bağlılık Aslı)” at the Linwood Dunn Theater in the 2nd Hollywood Turkish Films Festival.

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