Director of villagers’ film wins at a US film festival

MERSİN - Doğan News Agency

Ümmiye Koçak (L) receives the film award from Yasin Korkmaz.

A film created by women from a village in the southern province of Mersin has been awarded at the New York Eurasian Film Festival. 

The film, titled “Yün Bebek” (Wool Doll), was made by the Arslanköy Women’s Theater Group from the village of Arslanköy, and deals with the subject of violence against women. One of the directors and actors in the film, Ümmiye Koçak, won the “Best Eurasian Actress in Cinema” at the festival. 

Koçak, who is also the founder of the Arslanköy Women’s Theater Group, received her award from the other director of the film, Yasin Korkmaz. 

Korkmaz said the award had boosted morale for the film team and actors. “I wish we had received this award in the festival hall in the United States. But because of financial problems, we were not present there. I thank the festival jury and our actors.” 

Koçak said the story followed nomadic women, but added that they were attempting to draw attention to the problems of all Turkish women. “That means we are on the right track,” she said, adding that they would continue to make their voice heard as nomadic women.