World women’s cinema comes to Ankara

ANKARA

The 18th Flying Broom International Women’s Films Festival will be held this year between May 8 and 18.

The festival program was launched at a meeting held at Kuğulu Park in the Turkish capital. The festival, which will host a number of workshops, forums and panel discussions, has the theme “The States of 18,” in its 18th year. 

As a first this year, the festival is being organized with a committee, all 10 members of which are young people, headed by actress Damla Sönmez. 

“The Flying Broom is a big step in the women rights struggle. It is an organization for female cinema artists to prove themselves without box office worries. I am honored to be a part of this organization,” Sönmez said. 

The only international women’s films festival to which the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) sends a jury, the Flying Broom will feature a total of 133 films this year. 

Festival coordinator Özlem Kınal said, “Cinema goers will watch 133 films from 38 countries, including Pakistan, Ethiopia, North Cyprus, New Zealand, Tanzania, Mozambique, Germany, France, Algeria, Georgia, India and Armenia, as well as Turkey under 17 headlines.”

The festival’s feature films will be screened at Büyülü Fener Movie Theater and the Contemporary Arts Center will screen the festival’s documentaries, short films and animated films. Among the films will be 31 features, 39 documentaries, 47 shorts and 16 animated films. 

The festival will also featuring a number of guests, including actors, directors and panelists from countries such as Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Finland, Bulgaria, the U.K., the U.S. and Canada. 

The 18th Flying Broom International Women’s Films Festival will have 17 sections. The most striking sections will be “Her Biri Ayrı Renk” (Each has a different color) and “The States of 18,” which will be evaluated by the FIPRESCI jury. 


The festival’s opening film will be the opener from last year’s Cannes Film Festival, the French film “Girlhood.” Within the scope of the festival, the audiences will also have chance to see the Indian film “Margarita” and the Romanian film “Victoria.” 

On May 9 and 10, there will be a selection made with the contributions of the European Union Turkish Delegation. These films include “Viktoria,” “The Wonders,” “Traces of Sandalwood,” “Zurich,” “Women and War,” “Next Year,” “Nena,” “Be My Baby,” “The Lesson,” “Happily Ever After” and “Tito’s Glasses.” 

The festival will present the Honorary Award to Hümeyra, a veteran actress who has proven herself in many fields from music to theater, cinema and TV drama. She will be presented with her award on the opening night of the festival at the Ankara State Opera and Ballet. 

The festival will also present the “Bilge Olgaç Success Awards” to Deniz Eyüboğlu in the director of photography category, Emine Yıldırım in the scriptwriting category and Aylin Zoi in the fiction category. 

The festival will also give the “Theme Award” and the “Young Witch Award.”