Turkish director’s film wins prize in Venice

VENICE – Anadolu Agency

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Turkish film director Emin Alper’s latest movie received the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Venice International Film Festival, organizers announced Sept. 12.

Alper’s 114-minute dystopian film “Abluka” (Frenzy) centers on the story of two brothers who are struggling to survive under “heavy political violence.”

The film stars Turkish actors Mehmet Özgür and Berkay Ateş.

Venezuelan director Lorenzo Vigas’s first feature “Desde Alla” (From Afar) won the Golden Lion for best film at the 72nd Venice Film Festival, the jury director of which was Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron.

Prominent Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan - who won the 2014 Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival - was also a jury member in Venice.

The Silver Lion for best director went to Argentinian filmmaker Pablo Trapero for his movie “El Clan” (The Clan) while “Anomalisa” by American directors Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson won the Grand Jury Prize.

Italian actress Valeria Golino won the Best Actress prize for her role in the film “Per Amor Vostro” by Giuseppe Gaudino while the Best Actor award went to Frenchman Fabrice Luchini for his role in “L’Hermine” by Christian Vincent.