Malatya Film Fest ends with ceremony

The week-long second International Malatya Film Festival ended Nov. 24 after presenting awards in 16 categories in the international feature, Turkish feature and short film competitions.

The award ceremony was held at the Malatya Cultural and Congress Center. “The Women on the Sixth Floor” won international film and 15,000 euros. The film’s director Philippe Le Guay won the international category’s best director, and lead actress Natalie Verbeke won the best actress award.

The best music and best script in an international film went to “The Finger.” The film’s Fabian Vena won best actor in an international film.

In the national category, Turkish director Özcan Alper’s “Gelecek Uzun Sürer” (Future Lasts Forever) won best movie along with 30,000 Turkish Liras, and Alper received the best director award. “Some scenes of the film take place in Van, which was shaken by an earthquake last month. I hope they will heal as soon as possible,” Alper said. The film also won best music.

Haluk Ünal won best script for his film “Saklı Hayatlar.”

Salima Hamed won for best actress in a Turkish film for her role in “Unutma Beni Istanbul” (Do Not Forget Me Istanbul). Volga Sorgu won in the best actor category for his role in the film “Mar.”

Two special awards were also presented at the ceremony. Caner Erzincan, for his film “Mar,” took the National Feature Film Competition Jury Grand Prize. He also won the Cinema Writers Association (SİYAD) Award.

Judges for the short film category included film-writer Murat Özer, actress Devin Özgür Çınar, academic Bülent Özkam, director Didem Erayda, director and lecturer Kurtuluş Özgen, who awarded the best short film award to Ahmet Taş’s “Ekmek” (Bread).

The Short Film Jury Special Prize went to “Toros Canavarı” (The Monster of Toros).