World of cinema arrives in Malatya

The second edition Malatya International Film Festival will begin today, presenting Turkish and foreign films along with film competitions, talks, workshops and panel discussions with artists until Nov 24.

The eastern province of Malatya will welcome the cinematic world today as it plays host to 120 films from Turkey and around the world over the next week.

The festival, which is being organized by the World Mass Media Research Foundation, will feature national and international feature-length and short film competitions along with talks, workshops and panel discussions.

Eight Turkish films, selected by a three-person jury, will compete in the festival, including: “Eylül” (September) by Cemil Ağacıkoğlu; “Gelecek Uzun Sürer” (Future Lasts Forever) by Özcan Alper; “Kar Beyaz” (White as Snow) by Selim Güneş; “Küçük Günahlar” (Little Sins) by Rıza Kıraç; “Mar” by Caner Erzincan; “Saklı Hayatlar” (Hidden Lives) by Haluk Ünal; “Unutma Beni Istanbul” (Do Not Forget Me Istanbul) by a collective of six young directors and “Zenne” (Dancer) by Caner Alpay and Mehmet Binay.

The films will be evaluated in six categories, including best film, best director, best actress, best actor, best script and best music.

The winner of the best film honor will receive the Crystal Apricot Award for Best National Feature Film.

International films

The international feature competition will include Argentinean films “Phase 7” by Nicolas Goldbart and “The Finger” by Sergio Teubal; Romanian film “Adalbert’s Dream” by Gabriel Achim; French films “The Women on the 6th Floor” by Philippe Le Guay; Morocco’s “The Mosque” by Daoud Aoulad-Syad and “Michel G. King Of The World” by Stephane Kazandjian; Taiwanese film “Taipei Exchanges” by Ya-chuan Hsiao, as well as U.S. film “Terri” by Azazel Jacobs.

International cinema will be evaluated by jury members Mithat Alam, Roger Christian, Ludek Drizhal, Shahla Nahid and Andrea Roberti in the categories of best foreign film, best foreign director, best scenario, best actress, best actor and best music. A National Short Film Competition will also take place as part of the event.

Along with film screenings and competitions, the festival will also feature two legendary figures from Turkish cinema, actress Hülya Koçyiğit and actor Ediz Hun. The pair, who will also be presented with honorary awards this year, will make speeches on their adventure in cinema as part of the festival.

Istanbul Bilgi University lecturer and Animators Talent Camp project manager Berat İlk will organize a workshop for children in Malatya. Children will have the opportunity to experiment and learn about animation during the two-day workshop; at the end of the workshop, the young talents’ work will be made in to a short documentary.

Workshop on fiction film

Also, editor, script writer and color specialist Bora Gökşingöl, who is best known for his award-winning work on Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “Three Monkeys” and “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia,” will share his dramaturgical experience in editing with participants in his fiction film workshop.

Another workshop of the festival will be given by editor Thomas Balkenhol. The German will explore editing techniques through raw materials.

The festival will run through Nov. 24