Honorary awards presented at Istanbul Film Fest

ISTANBUL

Veteran actor Eşref Kolçak received the festival’s Honorary Award from another veteran actress Yıldız Kenter at the opening ceremony on April 5.

The 33rd Istanbul Film Festival began April 4 with an opening ceremony held at the Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Prominent names from Turkish cinema, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, were among the guests.

The ceremony, during which the festival’s categories were introduced, began with the What A Pair category prepared for the centennial celebration of Turkish cinema. The introduction of the Golden Tulip International and National Competition films and the films competing for the FACE Human Rights in Cinema Award followed.

After commemorating recently departed figures from the cinema world, including Alain Resnais and Tuncel Kurtiz, the Cinema Honorary Award was presented to six people who have devoted years of service to Turkish cinema.

Screenwriter Umur Bugay, a long-time servant to Turkish cinema, producer Abdurrahman Keskiner, actresses Zeliha Berksoy and Sevda Ferdağ, musician Attila Özdemiroğlu and actor Eşref Kolçak were the recipients of the awards at this year’s festival.