‘Beyond the Hill’ best film in Rotterdam Red Tulip Fest

ROTTERDAM - Anatolia News Agency

Director Emin Alper could not attend the ceremony and the awards he won were presented to directors Hüseyin Karabey and Dilek Gökçin. AA photo

Director Emin Alper’s film “Beyond the Hill” (Tepenin Ardı) took home the best film and best director awards at the first Red Tulip Film Festival in Rotterdam, which ended on June 7. Alper also received 8,500 euros in a cash prize.

Alper could not attend the ceremony, so the awards were presented to his director friends Hüseyin Karabey and Dilek Gökçin.

Among the competing films at the festival were Derviş Zaim’s “Cycle” (Devir), Ahmet Sönmez’s “Farewell Katya” (Elveda Katya), Çiğdem Vitrinel’s “The Rest” (Geriye Kalanlar), Pelin Esmer’s “Watchtower” (Gözetleme Kulesi), and Reis Çelik’s “Silent Night” (Lal). Reha Erdem’s “Gin” (Jin), which jury members could not watch because of a technical problem, remained out of the competition.

The Hague Cultural and Promotional Undersecretary Enis Tatroğlu said they hoped that the festival, which contributes to the promotion of Turkish films, would become a permanent one.

The five-day festival, organized by the Dutch Turkey Cultural Foundation under the auspices of Culture and Tourism Ministry and with the support of Rotterdam Municipality, featured 26 films including documentaries and short ones. Actress Demet Akbağ received a lifetime success award and director Onur Erdem received an honorary award at the opening of the event.