Golden Butterfly awards presented at a ceremony

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

The 42nd Pantene Golden Butterfly Awards ceremony were organized at Istanbul’s Zorlu Center PSM with the participation of renowned figures in Turkish television and music industry.

The 42nd Pantene Golden Butterfly Awards, which honored the best of Turkish television and music through the votes of daily Hürriyet readers, were presented on Nov. 29 at a ceremony held at Zorlu Center PSM in Istanbul. 

Hürriyet Chairwoman Vuslat Doğan Sabancı, Doğan TV Chairwoman Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, Doğan Online Founding Chairwoman Hanzade Doğan Boyner and Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Sedat Ergin attended Hürriyet’s traditional award ceremony along with a number of Turkish celebrities including Seranay Sarıkaya, Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, Öykü Serter, Beyazıt Öztürk, Tülin Şahin, Wilma Elles, Burcu Özberk, Özge Özpirinçci, Nilay Deniz, Hande Erçel and Özge Ulusoy. 

Musician Zeynep Casalini, wearing a black tie over her eyes with the message “peace,” drew interest on the red carpet. She walked the carpet with the help of others. 

Speaking to press members, she said, “I think that there is no other way than peace for the world to survive.” 

Among the attendees, actor Bekir Aksoy said he waited for the Golden Butterfly Awards every year. Actress Wilma Elles said, “This one of the Turkish Oscars, because Turkey’s television and music market is famous worldwide.”

Actress Burçin Terzioğlu said it was a very prestigious award ceremony, adding, “All the works and nominees are very good.”

Showman Beyazıt Öztürk said, “Such award ceremonies are good excuses to bring people together. I hope their number will increase. I expect something from award ceremonies; artists of the same league may give awards to each other. For example, a pop singer may give an award to a pop singer or an actress may give an award to another actress. I presented an award to showman Okan Bayülgen in last year’s ceremony. Only the award winners attend the ceremony but everyone should attend it. Then everything will be more cheerful.”

Singer İpek Açar, the wife of Turkish music veteran Kayahan, who died of cancer a few months ago, was also among the attendees. “Tonight has different meanings to me. I used to come to such events with Kayahan. I am alone for the first time,” she said. 

Winners on stage 

The 42nd Golden Butterfly Award Ceremony was presented by actor Halit Ergenç. Unlike previous years, this year 15 Hürriyet readers, selected by the Pantene Golden Butterfly Special Jury, had a chance to give awards to their favorite artists. 

Another surprise of the event was the first-time Pantene Shining Stars category. Ergenç’s wife, actress Bergüzar Korel, presented this award to Hande Erçel, Bensu Soral and Nilay Deniz. In the main categories, the best actress award was presented to Serenay Sarıkaya while Çağatay Ulusoy won the best actor award. 

Öykü Serter received the best anchorwoman award and İLker Ayrık received the best anchorman award. 

The best TV drama award went to “Güneşin Kızları” (Daughters of the Sun). The best TV comedy program award was presented to “Güldür Güldür” (Laugh Laugh) while the best comedy actress award went to Özge Özpirinçci and the best comedy actor award to Ahmet Kural and Murat Cemcir. 

Singer Gülben Ergen’s name was also announced to present an award. Since she was late to the ceremony, she appeared on the stage to give a message for daily Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar, who was imprisoned last week for reporting news on Syria-bound intelligence trucks. 

“Hürriyet is the newspaper of our childhood, youth and our children. Hürriyet means ‘republic,’ republic means us. All hail from award winners to Can Dündar,” Ergen said.