Pera Fest presents multiculturalism

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Among the list of planned festival events is a jazz concert by Özay Fecht and Kent Mete at Beyoğlu Alt and the play “Oh My Smyrna, My Beautiful İzmir,” written and directed by Nesrin Kazankaya, at Theater Pera.

Lighlighting the theme of multiculturalism and tradition and modernity, the 11th annual Pera Fest, which starts today, has a different identity from other festivals because it is a celebration of interdisciplinary arts. In this year’s program there are many events relating to cinema, which has an undisputable leadership among current creative industries and the other art disciplines.

Among the highlights of the festival are “Antonioni Retrospective,” organized in collaboration with the Istanbul Italian Culture Center. Other highlights include the screening of “Sevmek Zamanı” at the Turkish Cinema and Theater Museum (TÜRVAK) in commemoration of director Metin Erksan and theater actor Müşfik Kenter, and a talk with the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival’s jury head Istvan Szabo at the Lush Cabaret.

Two exhibitions will also open at Bahçeşehir University as a part of Pera Fest. One is a photography exhibition titled “Holy and Magic Places” by Filiz Kutlar that will open Oct. 5 at Bahçeşehir University’s Fazıl Say Auditorium with an opening concert titled “Baroque to Romanticism.” Mezzo soprano Özay Günay will be accompanied by Aylin Özuğur on piano.

Among the list of planned festival events is a jazz concert by Özay Fecht and Kent Mete at Beyoğlu Alt and the play “Oh My Smyrna, My Beautiful İzmir,” written and directed by Nesrin Kazankaya, at Theater Pera.

Today Pera Museum will host a talk by Cemal Ünal on Refik Ahmet Sevengil’s book “Istanbul Nasıl Eğleniyordu” (How did Istanbul used to have fun). Following the talk, Mehmet Eryılmaz’s documentary film “Bir Aydınlık Adam: Refik Ahmet Sevengil” (An Intellectual Man: Refik Ahmet Sevengil) will be screened.

During a panel titled “Interdisciplinary Approaches from Traditional to Modern” that will take place Oct. 10 at the Pera Museum, modern interpretations of literature, music, performing arts and plastic arts will be discussed. At the end of the panel, Okan Avcı’s documentary film “Telvin” will be shown.

In the field of music, Spanish King of Cai band will give a flamenco-jazz concert at Nardis on Oct. 8. Turkish composer Evrim Demirel’s Trio will perform contemporary interpretations of traditional Turkish music Oct. 9 at Salon.

On Oct. 9, Küçük Sahne will host the Bursa State Theater’s play “Tek Kişilik Yaşam” (Single Life), directed by Ayşe Lebriz Berkem. The play focuses on the life story of Turkey’s world famous painter and poet Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, who has interpreted traditional arts in a contemporary way. The play will be in Istanbul as part of the festival for just one day.

The Harbiye City Theater will stage the play “Surname” on Oct. 10. There will be a panel discussion with viewers after the play. A cartoon exhibition will open at the Schneidertempel Art Center on Oct. 11 to complete and round off the theme of the festival.

One of the cinema events at Pera Fest will be the screening of director Derviş Zaim’s film trilogy “Cenneti Beklerken” (Waiting for Heaven), “Nokta” (Dot) and “Gölgeler ve Suretler” (Shadows and Faces). The films will be shown Oct. 14 at Istanbul Modern.

On the last day of the festival, Oct. 16, one of the side events of the Istanbul Design Biennial, a design exhibition will open at Bahçeşehir University with a conference held as part of the exhibition.

The closing ceremony of Pera Fest will commemorate Turkish singer Ruhi Su on his 100 birthday.