Cinephile delight as Istanbul film festival returns

ISTANBUL

The festival will feature more than 200 films this year.

Boasting enough films to keep even the most demanding of cinephiles happy, the Istanbul Film Festival is returning for the 32nd time on March 30 with a smorgasbord of more than 200 films in over 20 sections.

The festival will go before audiences this year with a wide selection including new feature films from 2012 and 2013, unforgettable classics, masterpieces from master directors, films that premiered at Sundance in January and at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, past winners of the festival’s Golden Tulip Award, documentaries, as well as children’s films. 

The festival program includes a new section titled “Stories of Women,” a “From Literature to Silver Screen” section, which has returned after a long break, a special section titled “Am I Not a Citizen?” in collaboration with the 13th Istanbul Biennial to start in September, as well as “Reality is a Miracle: Carlos Reygadas.”

At the same time, there will also be panels, workshops and master classes with expert filmmakers.
The program of the festival was announced on March 4 at a press conference with the participation of İKSV General Manager Görgün Taner, Akbank General Manager Hakan Binbaşgil and Istanbul Film Festival Director Azize Tan.

Honorary awards at festival

The festival’s Cinema Honorary Awards will be presented at the opening ceremony to actress Lale Belkıs, cinematographer Aytekin Çakmakçı, actor Ahmet Mekin and scriptwriter Ayşe Saşa for their sterling efforts at advancing Turkish cinema. Şasa’s screenplay “Ah Güzel Istanbul” (Oh Beautiful Istanbul), directed by Atıf Yılmaz; “Kalbimin Efendisi” (Master of My Heart), featuring Belkıs; and “Bir Türk’e Gönül Verdim” (I Loved A Turk), featuring Ahmet Mekin, have all been included in the festival program.

Master director Costa Gavras will be presented with the Cinema Honorary Award of the festival before the screening of his latest film “Capital” on April 7 at Atlas Movie Theater. The director will also give a master class moderated by Alin Taşcıyan on the same day at Akbank Sanat.

The last Cinema Honorary Award of this year’s festival will be presented to Peter Weir, the head of jury of the 32nd Istanbul Film Festival International Golden Tulip Competition. Weir, well known for famous works such as “Gallipoli,” “Dead Poets Society,” “Green Card” and “The Truman Show,” will be presented with the award at the closing award ceremony to be held at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on April 14. The director will also give a master class on April 12 at Boğaziçi University Mithat Alam Film Center within the scope of the festival.

Taner said the posters for the 2013 Istanbul festivals were designed using the artwork and handwriting of leading artists from different fields. For the 32nd Istanbul Film Festival, the photograph “Sleepless Night” by director Nuri Bilge Ceylan and the director’s handwriting was turned into the festival poster with the design of İKSV Corporate Identity Advisor Bülent Erkmen. 

Opening film ‘I’m So Excited’ 

The opening ceremony of the 32nd Istanbul Film Festival will be held on March 29 at the Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center. Right after the ceremony, “I’m So Excited” by Pedro Almodovar will be shown as the opening film of the festival.

The closing and awards ceremony of the festival will be organized April 14 at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall. During the night, the Golden Tulips and other awards of the festival will be presented. After the ceremony, the winning film will be screened one last time.

Festival screenings will take place at Atlas, Beyoğlu, and Pera Museum in Beyoğlu, City’s in Nişantaşı, Feriye in Ortaköy and Rexx in Kadıköy. 

Tickets for the 32nd Istanbul Film Festival will go on sale on March 16.