Turkish films on LA screen at a festival

LOS ANGELES

Actress Belçim Bilgin and his husband Yılmaz Erdoğan, the director of ‘The Butterfly’s Dream,’ answer questions during the gala of the film in Los Angeles. DHA photo

The second edition of Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival opened on Feb. 28 with the premiere of “Kelebeğin Rüyası” (The Butterfly’s Dream), directed by Yılmaz Erdoğan. Launched at the historical Egyptian Theater in California, the festival will last until March 3. 

The gala night of the festival was attended by the director and actors of “The Butterfly’s Dream,” including Erdoğan, Belçim Bilgin and Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan. After the screening, the film’s crew came together with American cinema lovers and answered their questions.

After the screening of Emin Alper’s “Tepein Ardında” (Beyond the Hills) and Ali Aydın’s “Küf” (Mold), the festival will wrap up with Zeki Demirkubuz’s “Yeraltı” (Inside). 

Headed by award-winning director Semih Kaplanoğlu, the jury also includes the actress Bilgin. Judging the shorts competition from the U.S. is a notable line-up, including Ron Yerxa, President of the Academy’s Foreign Language Executive Committee; Howard A. Rodman, Vice President of the Writers Guild of America West and Academy Member; and lastly Rob Nilsson, director-producer, most notably winner of Caméra d’Or at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.

Out of 164 short films submitted to the festival, nine were determined by Elvis Mitchell, the curator of Los Angeles Art Museum. The films are as follows: “Bir Dilim Hayat” (Slice of Life) by Aysel Pınar Necef, “Bir Kurabiye Masalı” (A Cookie Tale) by İlkyaz Kocatepe, “Buhar” (Vanished into Blue) by Abdurrahman Öner, “Here’s Johnny” by Tekin Girgin, “Kadife Çoraplar” (Velvet Socks) by Baturay Tavkul, “Mesut” by Hakan Hücum, “Sonra” (After) by Nazlı Durlu, “Tepki” (Reaction) by Emrah Örnek, and “Tersyüz” (Upside Down) by Tuğçe Özdemir.