Antalya Film Festival opens with award presentation

ANTALYA – Anadolu Agency

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The 53rd International Antalya Film Festival opened on Oct. 16 at the EXPO 2016 Antalya Congress Center with the presentation of awards to a number of important Turkish actors and guests of honor.

“In my long or short career, I have been deemed worthy of such a big award for the first time,” said Audrey Taotou, the star of the 2001 French hit “Amelie,” as she received an honorary award at the opening ceremony. 

“I thank the festival for this unbelievable gift. I acted as a Turkish girl in my first English film. I learned English with a Turkish accent for the first time. Then a few years later, I came to Istanbul. It is very special to be here, thank you very much,” Tautou said, referring to her role in the 2002 British film “Dirty Pretty Things,” in which she plays a Turkish migrant to the United Kingdom.

Antalya Metropolitan Mayor and the festival president Menderes Türel said the festival would screen 140 films from 39 countries until Oct. 23. 

During the ceremony, Turkey’s cinema laborers were commemorated and scenes from the actor Tarık Akan, who died of cancer last month, were shown. 

The Golden Orange Labor Awards were given to dubbing artists Altan Karındaş and Tolon Karacaoğlu, who did not attend the ceremony because of health problems. 

The Yıldırım Önal Memory Award was bestowed on veteran actor Kenan Işık, who has been receiving treatment for two years after suffering a stroke. His son Mehmet Işık took the award on behalf of his father. 
In addition to Tautou, actors Yılmaz Gruda and Feyzi Tuna also won honorary awards at the ceremony. 

Singer Emel Sayın received a lifetime achievement award from Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı. 

“You know it is music my job; I sing but I also have 15 films. I am grateful for our people who supported me both in my music and cinema career,” Sayın said. 

Also at the ceremony, 12 national and 10 international competition films as well as their juries were introduced. 

Nominees for the national competition include new masterpieces by Yeşim Ustaoğlu (Tereddüt/Clair-obscur, a Turkish premiere) and Derviş Zaim (Rüya/Dream), as well as eight debut features. Two of the films selected are second feature films. 

The opening ceremony also drew Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Faruk Çelik, artists Mehmet Aslantuğ, Yavuz Bingöl, Özgür Çevik, Deniz Çakır, Nesrin Cavadzade, Connie Nielsen, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Giulio Violati, Andie MacDowell and George Hamilton.

Türel also presented a video featuring the names and pictures of those who lost their life during the coup attempt on July 15. “Each of the martyrs on July has become a sun and illuminated Turkey’s way,” he said.