Eliminated films get second chance at a festival

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

The Secondhand Short Film Festival, which was first organized seven years ago by Kerem Akkoyunlu after his films were rejected by festivals, will be presented to audiences once again in Ankara.

Akkyounlu said their films had been eliminated arbitrarily and they did not understand the fate of the movies. “It offended us. Our festival is against the elimination of films before they are seen by the audience. This is why we organize the festival without a jury or award. It aims to do nothing but screen films. This type of festival has never been organized in any part of the world.”

Akkoyunlu said they accepted only films that had been eliminated from other festivals. “Directors sometimes ask us to screen their newest film at the festival, but we can show never-before-seen films at the opening gala only. The festival has brought some 1,500 short films to audiences in six years. We included feature films in the festival last year.”

The Secondhand Short Film Festival opened yesterday with the film “Barbaros Erköse – Sensiz Yaşanmaz,” featuring the life of one of Turkey’s first clarinet players. There will also be two exhibitions as part of the festival; Şebnem Kitiş’s “Don’t be a Gringo,” displaying photos of South America, and cinema writer Ege Görgün’s “40 Cinema Magazines since the Republican Period.”
All screenings will be held at the Ankamall Sanatolia Stage.