Istanbul welcomes two weeks of film enthusiasm with 32nd festival

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Actress Patricia Arquette (R) and director Bille August attended the opening of the Istanbul Film Festival. AA photo

The 32nd Istanbul Film Festival opened on March 29 at a ceremony held at the Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center. Besides well-known names of Turkish cinema, celebrated actress Patricia Arquette and master director Bille August were among the exclusive guests who participated in the opening ceremony. Roman Coppola’s film “A Glimpse Inside The Mind of Charles Swan III,” starring Arquette, will be screened at the festival this year as well as August’s eagerly anticipated film “Night Train to Lisbon.

The opening ceremony started with the screening of the introductory film of the festival. Arquette and August presented the new sections of the festival program, “Stories of Women” and “From Literature to Silver Screen” respectively.

During the commemoration part of the ceremony, prominent figures who died in the past year in the film industry were remembered, and the announcement was made about a new award to be given this year in memoriam of Seyfi Teoman, who died last year. The Seyfi Teoman Best Debut Film Prize, to be given in memory of director, producer and scriptwriter Teoman, is going to be supported by CMYLMZ Fikirsanat for the coming five years.

Later at the ceremony the “Cinema Honorary Awards” were given to four highly esteemed names who have worked for years in film in Turkey: Lale Belkıs, Aytekin Çakmakçı, Ayşe Şasa and Ahmet Mekin.

After the opening ceremony the 32nd Istanbul Film Festival started with the screening of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar’s latest film, “I’m So Excited,” with Carlos Areces, Raul Arevalo and Javier Camara in leading roles with Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas as guest stars. “I’m So Excited” will be screened within the “Akbank Galas” section of the festival.