Golden Oranges take up women s rights issue

ANTALYA - Anatolia News Agency

Müjde Ar, the head of the Golden Orange National Film Jury (R), and Serdar Akar, director of ‘Behzat Ç I Buried You In My Heart). DHA Photo.

Antalya’s annual Golden Orange Film Festival may be Turkey’s glitziest for its star power and most comprehensive for the range of movies on offer, but this year’s edition is also squarely focused on the issue of women’s rights.

It is extremely significant that this year’s 48th edition of the festival has brought the importance of women to the silver screen, Müjde Ar, the festival jury president and a famous Turkish actress, said Oct. 10 at a press conference in the southern province.

“Violence separates women and men because it is easier to violate women,” said Ar.

Many of the films competing at this year’s festival are debuts from their directors, Ar said.

“Out of 13 films, nine of them are the first movies of new directors,” said the actress, adding that the fact was very inspiring for the entire Turkish cinema industry. This notwithstanding, the festival organizers do not discriminate between older and newer directors, she added.

Serdar Akar’s ‘Behzat Ç’ makes gala

Ar also said the jury members were happy to witness the great interest from the public. “There are people who will win in this festival, but at the same time, no one will lose. We would like to support and encourage young people while honoring people who are in this business.”

The lineup for Oct. 10 continued with the gala screening of director Serdar Akar’s “Behzat Ç. Seni Kalbime Gömdüm” (Behzat Ç. I Buried You in My Heart), starring Erdal Beşikçioğlu, at the Antalya Culture Center Aspendos Hall.

Akar said the film focused on the distorted structure in Turkish law enforcement. When asked about the reactions to the film from both within and outside the police, the director said, “Not good.”

Akar also said his film had an advantage because it was based off the TV series “Behzat Ç.” “The basis of the characters was ready a year ago. This film has such a chance.”

 When a press member said the film, which has lots of profanity, had been tagged with a restricted rating, Akar said: “I wanted a PG limit. Did you see anything immoral?” The answer precipitated laughter in the theater.