Short films on Akbank screen at festival

ISTANBUL

The 11th Akbank Short Film Festival opened on March 16. The festival program includes sections under the titles “Festival Shorts,” “World Shorts,” “From Short to Long,” “Experiences,” “Documentary Cinema,” “Out of Competition” and “Special Screening,” as well as workshop activities and talks.

Aiming to become a production and information-exchange platform for short film enthusiasts, the festival also features award-winning films within the scope of the “Award-Winning Films at Universities” event to be held in 40 universities. Actress Vahide Perçim will give an acting workshop as part of the festival on March 19.

The national competition jury members of the festival are director Handan İpekçi, actress-director Nazan Kesal, Işık Universty Cinema-TV Department Professor Mutlu Parkan, actor Taner Birsel and Akbank Sanat Director Derya Bigalı.

This year the festival accepted international applications for the first time, adding a new section, in addition to the National Competition tradition, titled International Competition.

Director-screenwriter Jessica Woodworth, Berlin Film Festival Short Film Curator Maike Mia Höhne, actress Meltem Cumbul, director of photography Florent Herry and Bigalı are the jury members of the international competition of the festival, which will continue until March 26.