Antalya 06 | Awards

Winners of the 43rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and 2nd International Eurasia Film Festival awards are:
43rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival Honor Award Norman Jewison

43rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival National Feature Film Competition
Best Film "Destiny" Director: Zeki Demirkubuz
Best Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan ("Climates")
Best Actor Erkan Can ("A Man's Fear of God")
Best ActressSibel Kekilli ("Back Home")
Best Supporting Actor Civan Cenova ("Back Home")
Best Supporting Actress Nazan Kesal ("Climates")
Best Script Önder Çakar ("A Man's Fear of God")
Best Cinematography & Kodak Award Soykut Turan ("A Man's Fear of God")
Best EditingAyhan Ergüzel ("Climates")
Best Art Director Erol Taştan ("A Man's Fear of God")
Best Music Gökçe Akçelik ("A Man's Fear of God")
Best Sound Design "Climates"
Best Special Effects "Waiting for Heaven"
Best Costume DesignAyten Şenyurt ("A Man's Fear of God")
Best Make-Up & Hair DesignNimet İnkaya ("A Man's Fear of God")
Best Laboratory Sinefekt ("Climates" & "A Man's Fear of God")
Digiturk Behlül Dal Award for the Best Newcomer Ufuk Bayraktar ("Destiny")
43rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival National Short Film Competition
Best Short Film "A Drop of Water" Director: Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Special Award "Boreas" Director: Belma Baş
43rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival National Documentary Film Competition
Best Documentary Award"Housekeeper" Director: Emel Çelebi
Special Award "Ömer Come Home!" Sekan Şavk, Barış Şahin, Şevket Onur Cihan
2nd International Eurasia Film Festival
Best Film "The Paper Will Be Blue" Director: Radu Munteanu
Best Director György Palfi ("Taxidermia")
Critics Award "12:08 East of Bucharest"Director: Corneliu Porumboiu

Antalya 06 | Waiting for Heaven by Derviş Zaim

Waiting for Heaven
Derviş Zaim

Film Title: Waiting for Heaven
Orginal Title: Cenneti Beklerken
Turkish Title: Cenneti Beklerken
Director: Derviş Zaim
Screenplay: Derviş Zaim
Cast: Serhat Tutumluer, Melisa Sözen, Mesut Akusta, Nihat İleri, Mehmet Ali Nuroğlu, Rıza Sönmez, Numan Acar, Bülent İnal, Altan Erkekli, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Mustafa Uzunyılmaz
Country: Turkey, Hungary
Year: 2006
Duration: 107'
Production: Hermes Film, Maraton Filmcilik
Productor: Dervis Zaim, Baran Seyhan, Elif Dagdeviren, Bülent Helvaci
Photography: Mustafa Kuşçu
Editing: Ulaş Cihan Şimşek
Music: Rahman Altın

Eflatun is a master miniature artist who's living in 17th century Istanbul. One day, he's taken to the vizier's mansion by force. There he learns that Danyal, one of the Ottoman princes who has ignited an insurrection, is arrested in a far off state and to be executed soon. Eflatun is ordered to make a portrait of the rebel prince who's been condemned to death in a Western manner to help the authorities be certain on the identity of him. Upon the order, Eflatun sets off for an arduous journey to Anatolia. He picks up a girl named Leyla en route. Together, they find themselves in a great venture fraught with sensations.

Antalya 06 | Snowmen by Aytan Gönülşen

Snowmen
Aytan Gönülşen

Film Title: Snowmen
Orginal Title: Kardan Adamlar
Turkish Title: Kardan Adamlar
Director: Aytan Gönülşen
Screenplay: Osman Dikiciler, Aytan Gönülşen, Onur Güven
Cast: Hazım Körmükçü, Ogün Kaptanoğlu
Country: Turkey
Year: 2006
Duration: 88'
Photography: Levent Vural
Editing: Aytan Gönülşen
Music: Onur Güven, Sinan Zarakolu
Web: www.birfilm.com/films/film_id82.asp

Levent (Hazım Körmükçü) and Can (Ogün Kaptanoğlu), who’re partners in business, hit the interurban road on a cold winter day to find one of their customers they’re about to lose and persuade him to do business with them again. Desiring to make the journey a petty weekend escapade, Can takes the opportunity of Levent’s sleeping, strays from the highway and takes the mountain road. The jeep, after traveling along uneven mountain roads surrounded by a fascinating landscape of snow for a while, sinks deep into snow because of Can’s craving for fun. Levent, blaming his partner with flightiness, gets angry at him and moves away. The couple lose one another. When they’re reunited, they find themselves in a strange world hosted by snowy mountains adorned with verdant trees. Levent and Can, while trying to withstand the gradually hardening fury of nature, start questioning each other and their relationships with life. This struggle will open the doors of the couple’s facing their own selves in a world where time does not reign over.

Antalya 06 | Purgatory Zero by Biray Dalkıran

Purgatory
Biray Dalkıran

Film Title: Purgatory
Orginal Title: Araf
Turkish Title: Araf
Director: Biray Dalkıran
Screenplay: Hakan Bilir
Cast: Akasya Asıltürkmen, Murat Yıldırım, Kubilay Tunçer, Yasin Şerif Tulun, Mehmet Birkiye
Country: Turkey
Year: 2006
Duration: 96'
Production: DFGS Yapim
Productor: Biray Dalkıran
Photography: Askin Sagiroglu
Editing: Biray Dalkıran
Music: Hayko Cepkin
Web: http://www.ar-af.com

Eda is a student of dance enrolled in the academy of arts. She is in a relationship with Cihan, who’s married and has a kid. When she awakens to the fact that she’s been pregnant for 16 weeks, she asks her fellow Oya to replace her on the night she was supposed to stage a solo performance. Same night, Eda has an illegal abortion which will darken her remaining life under unsanitary conditions. 3 years later, she is now married to Cenk, a photography student, and pregnant for two months. But her pregnancy, along with the problem of a 3 year old girlchild entering her life wreck her psychology and Eda starts to comport self-destructively, scaring all who’s around her.

Antalya 06 | Gravity Zero by Murat Şeker

Gravity Zero
Murat Şeker

Film Title: Gravity Zero
Orginal Title: İki Süper Film Birden
Turkish Title: İki Süper Film Birden
Director: Murat Şeker
Screenplay: Erol Adilçe, Murat Şeker, Selami Genli
Cast: Tim Seyfi , Murat Akkoyunlu, Ugur Polat, Beste Bereket, Cahit Berkay, Yasemin Öztürk, Nejat Isler, Atilla Saral, Suzan Aksoy, Orhan Kocatas, Feridun Düzagaç
Country: Turkey
Year: 2006
Duration: 95'
Production: Sugarworkz
Productor: Erol Adilçe, Murat Seker
Photography: Emre Erkmen
Editing: Erol Adilçe
Music: Serhat Ersöz
Web: http://www.2superfilmbirden.com

Necati is a 33 year old man who’s passionate for cinema. He has lost his mother just after he was born and his father is an odd fisherman nicknamed “Newton”. Necati’s biggest dream is to complete his film “Gravity Zero” which he endeavors to shoot by using a home camera and show it to an audience on a cinema screen. He earns his life by shooting videos for the wannabe famous local singers, slushy TV advertisements for the tradesmen of the neighborhood whom he had hard times to convince and by recording wedding ceremonies whenever he falls stranded. A Don Quixote when it comes to cinema, Necati could not manage to derive support from anyone except his wife Arzu and his assistant Selami, for the film he presented as “an experimental picture that will rock Europe” runs on no proper script neither it incorporates any professional actors. Unexpected circumstances that come to life when Necati is on the verge of realizing his dream will leave him alone in the midst of a Mafia pay-off and give birth to results that will affect the lives of the people around him.

Antalya 06 | Destiny by Zeki Demirkubuz

Destiny
Zeki Demirkubuz

Film Title: Destiny
Orginal Title: Kader
Turkish Title: Kader
Director: Zeki Demirkubuz
Screenplay: Zeki Demirkubuz
Cast: Ufuk Bayraktar, Vildan Atasever, Müge Ulusoy
Country: Turkey
Year: 2006
Duration: 103'
Production: Mavi Film- Inkas Film
Productor: Zeki Demirkubuz
Photography: Zeki Demirkubuz
Editing: Zeki Demirkubuz
Music: Edward Artemiyev
Web: www.demirkubuz.com

Bekir is mad for Uğur. Uğur is enamored with Zagor and Zagor's passionate for committing crimes.

Zagor is released from jail. A sultry summer night, one mishap followed another and a murder is committed in the neighborhood. Same night, Uğur vanishes.

The homicidal crime, though being the forerunner of the dark and cruel days waiting for Uğur's young and pretty mother, his paralyzed father and his little brother who have lived under the wings of an affluent young man named Cevat until now, becomes a hope of deliverance from his mad love for Bekir. He marries the girl picked by his family and initiates himself into a new life.

Some months later, Zagor's killing of two policemen and being put back into jail and Uğur's return to Istanbul breed a new hope for Bekir. On the trail of a pitiless love, there began a deadly chase which will go on for years. Bekir follows the traces of his beloved down in nightspots across the province, in cheap hotel rooms, in dope bashes.

He's been shot but did not turn back. He's been shooed, he did not retreat. He's been abased, his pride wounded, he did not mind. Town after town, jail after jail Uğur trails behind Zagor and Bekir chases after him like a faithful, obstinate dog.

While everything's been wasted away for the sake of a couple of eyes and a charming visage, love has just grown stronger with the light of cigarettes put out in palms, with sufferings, with tears and wickedness.

Hearths and homes are destroyed, children were orphaned but innocence is never to be lost.

Antalya 06 | Climates by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Climates
Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Film Title: Climates
Orginal Title: İklimler
Turkish Title: İklimler
Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Screenplay: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Cast: Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan,Nazan Kesal,Mehmet Eryılmaz,Arif Aşçı,Can Özbatur
Country: Turkey, France
Year: 2006
Duration: 101'
Production: Co Production Ltd.
Productor: Zeynep Özbatur
Photography: Gökhan Tiryaki
Editing: Ayhan Ergürsel, Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Web: http://www.iklimler.com/

Man was made to be happy for simple reasons and unhappy for even simpler ones. Isa and Bahar are two lonely figures dragged through the ever-changing climate of their inner selves in pursuit of a happiness that no longer belongs to them.

Antalya 06 | Back Home by Ömer Uğur

Back Home
Ömer Uğur

Film Title: Back Home
Orginal Title: Eve Dönüş
Turkish Title: Eve Dönüş
Director: Ömer Uğur
Screenplay: Ömer Uğur
Cast: M.Ali Alabora, Sibel Kekilli, Altan Erkekli, Savaş Dinçel, Perihan Savaş, Cihan Canova, Erdal Tosun, Necmettin Çobanoğlu, Cengiz Küçükayvaz
Country: Turkey
Year: 2006
Duration: 101'
Production: Limon Yapım
Productor: Hayri Aslan
Photography: Mustafa Kuşçu
Editing: Ulaş Cihan Şimşek
Music: Tamer Çıray
Web: http://www.evedonusfilm.com

September 1980. Mustafa and his wife, who're both laborers are married for 5 years. The couple has nothing to do with politics and spend their days happily with their 3 year old daughter and their TV, despite the clamour of guns clashing outside every night. One Friday morning, they wake up and hear the voice of Hasan Mutlucan on radio and observe soldiers marching through the streets, the very confirmation of the military coup that has taken place. Arrests begin instantly in workplace and neighborhood. Yet Mustafa, far from being disturbed, assumes that all apprehensions must have rightful reasons…until the night he's taken into custody, charged with the crimes of a militant code named "Şehmuz".

Antalya 06 | Aura by Orhan Oğuz

Aura
Orhan Oğuz

Film Title: Aura
Orginal Title: Aura
Turkish Title: Aura
Director: Orhan Oğuz
Screenplay: Orhan Oğuz
Cast: Gani Rüzgar Şavafa, Töre Anadolu, Ahmet Satılmış
Country: Turkey
Year: 2006
Duration: 90'
Production: 7. Sanat Sinema
Productor: Tunç Oğuz, Arafat Şavafa
Photography: Umut Ardabak
Editing: Mevlüt Koçak
Music: Murat Engin

Haydar, member of a religious cult is condemned to punishment by the community of his cult. Whereas the guilt actually belongs to Şahin, his elder brother. Şahin, expelled from his cult, acquaints with the beautiful Yezidi girl Yezide. The story of orphaned Yezide's remaining life transforms into an "aura". And the adventure of two robbers incorporate into this aura as well.

Antalya 06 | A Man's Fear of God by Özer Kızıltan

A Man's Fear of God
Özer Kızıltan

Film Title: A Man's Fear of God
Orginal Title: Takva
Turkish Title: Takva
Director: Özer Kızıltan
Screenplay: Önder Çakar
Cast: Müfit Aytekin, Erkan Can, Murat Cemcir, Güven Kırac, Feridun Koc, Öznur Kula, Erdal Parmaksizoglu, Erman Saban, Duygu Sen, Settar Tanriogen, Meray Ülgen, Selahattin Bilal
Country: Turkey
Year: 2006
Production: Yeni Sinemacılar- Corazon Internatıonal
Productor: Fatih Akin, Onder Cakar, Sevil Demirci, Klaus Maeck, Andreas Thiel
Photography: Soykut Turan
Editing: Andrew Bird, Niko
Music: Gökçe Akçelik
Web: http//:www.takva.com.tr
Humble introvert Muharrem lives in a solitary and meager existence of a prayer and sexual abstinence adhering strictly to the most severe Islamic doctrines.His exstraordinary devotion attracts the attention of the leaders of a rich and powerful İstanbul religious group.His acclaimed trustworthiness and contiousness inspire them to offer him an administrative post as rent collector for their numerous properties.Muharrem’s new job throws him into the modern outside world he has successfully avoided for so long.He soon withnesses conflict attitude toward alcohol consumption and goodwill.He notices that he himself has become proud,domineering and even dishonest.To make matters worse ,Muharrem’s inner peace is unnerved by the tormenting image of seductive woman who tempts him in his dreams,both night and day.With the balance of his devotion now upset,his fear of God begins to eat away at his senses.

WWII life-saving ship star of documentary:

WWII life-saving ship star of documentary:

ANK - Turkish Daily News

Filmmaker and author Erhan Cerrahoğlu has been working on a documentary about a ship that carried humanitarian supplies from Turkey to Greece during World War II.

The ship, Kurtuluş, sunk on its fifth trip to Greece, on Feb. 20, 1942, due to a storm.

The documentary notes that Turkey was the only country that helped Greece during the period known as the “Great Hunger,” when estimates say 70,000 people died, and iincludes interviews with Greek academics and citizens who lived through the period.

Cerrahoğlu said he was impressed about what they told him about the ship: “They were talking about a Turkish ship that sunk while taking much-needed supplies to Greece. As I was preparing it, I was shocked. Why didn't anyone know about this?”

He said as he investigated the story, he realized most of the relevant archives were destroyed and that not a single record of what happened existed even in the records of the Turkish Red Crescent, which supplied the aid.

During his trip to Athens, Cerrahoğlu realized that all those who lived through World War II remembered the Kurtuluş. “Everyone I talked to ended their interview by saying how nonsensical the tension between Turkey and Greece is. Unfortunately, not a single Turkish witness survives.”

Speaking for the documentary, Greek historian Georgeos Margaritis said: “Kurtuluş, until February 1942, was the symbol of hope for Greeks. After it sank, more ships came, but all of them were known as Kurtuluş to us. People used to say, ‘We are hungry, but Kurtuluş will come tomorrow'.”

The documentary is sponsored by Greece's Olympic Airways.

TORONTO '06 DISCOVERY INTERVIEW: Ozer Kiziltan

A scene from Ozer Kiziltan' s "Takva - A Man's Fear of God." Photo courtesy of the Toronto International Film Festival

TORONTO '06 DISCOVERY INTERVIEW: Ozer Kiziltan: "Unfortunately, war and violence affected me more than other filmmakers or films."

by indieWIRE (September 13, 2006)

Every day through the end of the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, indieWIRE will be publishing interviews with filmmakers in the Discovery section of the festival, which TIFF describes as "provocative feature films by new and emerging directors."
Nineteen filmmakers were given the opportunity to participate in an e-mail interview, and each was sent the same questions. Director Ozer Kiziltan is at Toronto with his feature film, "Takva - A Man's Fear of God" is about a single middle-aged Turkish man who has a crisis of faith.
How old are you? Where did you grow up? Where do you live now?
I was born in Istanbul in 1963 and I am still living in this beautiful city.
What were the circumstances that lead you to become a filmmaker?
While I was in my last semester studying Law at Istanbul University, suddenly I thought that I would be a great film director and I left the Law Department and I began studying Cinema & TV. My degree ended up coming from that department. I live in a part of the world where lot of stories are waiting to be heard and communicated to others. I thought the best way to tell these beautiful stories was through movies and I still think so. "Takva" is my first feature film, but I directed several TV series for Turkish television and I still do. I associated in 1997 with a few filmmaker friends in a production company, Yeni Sinemacular (New Filmmakers). So far, I have worked in different positions in four feature films made by Yeni Sinemacular. "Takva" is our fifth film together. All the films we've made together have had acclaim in Turkey and also been shown in many international festivals and even won some awards. "Takva" is my turn as a director, and I am waiting impatiently for the reactions.
How/where did the initial idea for your film come from?
"Takva" is the most recent project of production company Yeni Sinemacular. While Onder Cakar wrote the script and the project was in development, everything was designed in accordance with my cinema language. I had been waiting for a long time to make a film as a director. "Takva"seemed to be the right project for me.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in either developing the project or making and securing distribution for the movie?
The main problem - not for myself, but for all the crew - was that our knowledge of Islamic culture and its actuality in Istanbul today was very weak. We had to do a lot of research work for a long time during the preparation.
How did you finance the film?
Yeni Sinemacular, together with Turkish-German director Fatih Akin's production company Corazon applied to many institutions, such as the Turkish Minister of Culture, Eurimages, Goethe Institute, etc. for financing and the film has been made with a very limited budget.
What are your biggest creative influences?
Unfortunately, war and violence -- Kosovo, Chechen wars, September 11 and the Philistine massacres - affected me more than other filmmakers or films. They still keep affecting me after finishing "Takva".
What is your definition of independent film?
I think what makes a film independent is hidden in its power to stay free from both the film's own budget issues and also from the cliches of the movie industry's financial interests. As long as filmmakers don't lose their freedom, the spirit of independent cinema will survive.
What are some of your favorite films?
"Potemkin," "Amadeus," "Mephisto," "Natural Born Killers".
How do you define success as a filmmaker? What are your personal goals as a filmmaker?
To continue making films, again and again.
Can you tell us a bit about your next projects?
Together with Yeni Sinemacular, we are trying to develop several projects - a project comparing love and war written by a Macedonian woman screenwriter, one on Armenian issues and racial problems. I don't know of any other projects about the issue of women and Islam in the "Takva" style. Who knows, maybe we will do that too. I guess "Takva" will determine our way.

Takva - A Man's Fear of God

Takva - A Man's Fear of God
(Takva)

Programme: VISIONS
Director: Özer Kiziltan
Country: Turkey/Germany
Year: 2006 | 97 minutes | Colour/35mm

Production Company : Yeni Sinemacilik
Foreign Sales Agent : The Match Factory

Executive Producer: Feridun Koc, Falk H. Nagel
Producer: Sevil Demirci Çakar, Önder Çakar, Fatih Akin, Klaus Maeck, Andreas Thiel
Screenplay: Önder Çakar
Cinematographer: Soykut Turan
Editor: Andrew Bird
Production Designer: Erol Tastan
Sound: Onur Yavuz
Music: Gökçe Akçelik
Principal Cast: Erkan Can, Güven Kiraç, Meray Ülgen, Duygu Sen, Salaettin Bilal

In Takva – A Man’s Fear of God, director Özer Kiziltan has tackled one of life’s most difficult questions and, in so doing, has created an extraordinary piece of cinema: if we base our lives on a belief in God, and then experience a crisis of faith, are we losing God or is God abandoning us because of our questioning?

Muharrem (Erkan Can) is a forty-five-year-old single man, living in one of the oldest residential districts in Istanbul, in the very house in which he was born. He works every day as the assistant to a sack trader, the same job he has held since he was eleven years old. The conservative and traditional behaviour of his late parents and of his community have led Muharrem to be an introvert, so his exceptionally simple life centres on his total devotion to the services and exercises of a religious sect. The core of Muharrem’s life is his bedrock belief in – and fear of – God.

It is this conscientiousness, honesty and discipline that leads the Sheikh of his convent (in the context of Islam, a religious complex for men) to appoint Muharrem as administrator of its holdings. As Muharrem has shown no interest in material things, surely he is the best one to collect the rents from their forty-three flats, thirty-five shops and seven pieces of land. Muharrem accepts the task with great humility and even some awe, especially when he is provided with a new suit, a beautiful pen, a car with a driver and a cell phone.

Inevitably, Muharrem begins to face ethical situations in the secular world for which his dedication to his religion has not prepared him. Soon, this man of faith loses his spiritual innocence by an act of his own, and his despair sends him spiralling into madness, perhaps never to return.

Takva – A Man’s Fear of God provides extraordinary riches to the viewer. Initially it offers a rarely-seen glimpse into the world of conservative Turkish Muslims, which has a beauty and hypnotic power entirely its own. Then we are drawn into Muharrem’s small universe with its very large questions. Cinematically stunning and skilfully made, the film tackles those important struggles that all too often go unexplored in a complex modern world.

- Jane Schoettle

Özer Kiziltan was born in Istanbul and studied law at the University of Istanbul. Before completing his degree, he left law school in order to study cinema and television at the Mimar Sinan University. He has written and directed several TV shows and award-winning short films, including Distress (90), Caution, Mice (90), Your Eyes Are the Last Passion Fire of Yesilçam (93) and The Last Birds Too Are Gone (94). Takva – A Man’s Fear of God (06) is his debut feature film.

Associated with European Film Promotion,
an initiative supported by the
European Union’s MEDIA Programme.

2 GENC KIZ by Kutlug Ataman

2 GENC KIZ Turkey
Focus on World Cinema
2005 / 35 mm / Colour / 107 min
Director : Kutlug Ataman
Script : Kutlug Ataman
Photography : Emre Erkmen
Editor : Zeynep Zilelioglu, Aziz Imamoglu, Lew Q
Cast : Hulya Avsar, Feride Cetin, Vildan Atasever
2006 WORLD FILM FESTIVAL MONTREAL

2 GIRLS
Two teenage girls hook up in contemporary Istanbul. Bubbly blonde Handan loves patrolling the shopping malls and has a love-hate relationship with her mom, Leman, who also likes expensive clothes. Although Leman is willing to turn tricks to raise Handan's college fees, she's otherwise hopeless with both men and money. Behiye, meanwhile, is an angry and defiant university student with little interest in education. She despises her conservative parents and her abusive older brother. When a mutual friend introduces Behiye to Handan they immediately hit it off, and despite the differences in their backgrounds they embark on an intense relationship and, with it, a secret plan to escape their dysfunctional families.

Kutlug Ataman
Born in Istanbul in 1961, Kutlug Ataman graduated in drama and film from the University of California in Los Angeles, in 1988. He worked for several years in Turkey and in Germany, then moved to London in 1999. His video installations have been displayed at museums in New York and across Europe. Selected filmography: Hansel and Gretel (1984), La Fuga (1988), THE SERPENT'S TALE (1993), LOLA AND BILIDIKID (1998), Women With Pigs (1999), Never My Soul (2000), and The 4 Seasons of Veronica Read (2002).

WITHIN REACH BY Phyllis Katrapani

WITHIN REACH Canada
Documentaries of the World
2006 / Video / Colour / 51 min
Director : Phyllis Katrapani
Script : Phyllis Katrapani
Photography : Phyllis Katrapani
Editor : Kara Blake, Louise Dugal
2006 WORLD FILM FESTIVAL, MONTREAL

What do we bring from our homeland that remains with us in the country where we are now citizens? What do we discard? What do we pass on? Language, memories, objects that bear witness to past lives and, often, to other cultures. What are the links between here and there, then and now, distance and proximity? An intimate journey in seven chapters, Within Reach explores, through recollections, conversations and experiences, the questions of intimacy in art and the documentary filmmaker's point of view.

Phyllis Katrapani
Born in Montreal in 1967, Phyllis Katrapani graduated in communication from the Université du Québec à Montréal. She studied as well at the FAMU film school in Prague and the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University in Montreal. Her first film, Still Life (1992), was made at FAMU as a graduation film. Among her subsequent works, Ithaka (1997) and HOME (2002) were shown at the Montreal World Film Festival as well as events worldwide.

Erju Ackman / Film Related Biography (2002)

Erju Ackman / Film Related Biography

Born 1950, Istanbul, Turkey
1967
Film Critic for Kadikoy'un Sesi,Istanbul, Turkey (local weekly)
1968-69
Film Critic for Yeni Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (National Daily)
1969-71
Editor for Movie Pages for HEY (national youth and music weekly )
1971-73
Short Films
1969-1974
Publications and research at ( Devlet Film Arsivi) National Film Archive, State Academy of Fine Arts, Istanbul
1972-74
Film Programming at National Film Archive, State Academy of Fine Arts, Istanbul
Golden Age of Danish Silent Cinema
German Silent Films
Fantastic Cinema
1987-1999
Director at Toronto Film Society
membership / publicity / programming
1988
May 21 1988 at University of Toronto, Innis College Town Hall
Programme Organized by E. Ackman
during CFFS / Canadian Federation of Film Societies AGM Film Preview Weekend
Ahh Belinda / Atif Yilmaz 1987
Forbidden Love / Aski Memnu / Halit Refig 1975
1988
The Best of Turkish Cinema / Toronto
Nov 19- 30, 1988
A Desperate Road / Umutsuz Yol /Omer Kavur 1985
White Bicyle /Beyaz Bisiklet / Nisan Akman 1987
Ahh Belinda / Atif Yilmaz 1987
Ipekce / Bilge Olgac 1986
Forbidden Love / Aski Memnu / Halit Refig 1975
Wrestler / Pehlivan / Zeki Okten 1985
Sultanahmed Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Meydani/(documentary short) / Nesli Colgecen
When Fogs Disappear / Sisler Kovulunca / (documentary short) / Suha Arin 1986

1989
New Turkish Cinema
January 11- March 9, 1989
Pasific Cinematheque, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Cinematheque Quebecoise, Montreal PQ
Canadian Film Institute, Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Waterloo University, Waterloo Ontario, Canada
A Desperate Road / Umutsuz Yol /Omer Kavur 1985
White Bicyle /Beyaz Bisiklet / Nisan Akman 1987
Ahh Belinda / Atif Yilmaz 1987
Ipekce / Bilge Olgac 1986
Forbidden Love / Aski Memnu / Halit Refig 1975
Wrestler / Pehlivan / Zeki Okten 1985
Sultanahmed Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Meydani/(documentary short) / Nesli Colgecen
When Fogs Disappear / Sisler Kovulunca / (documentary short) / Suha Arin 1986
1990-1997
Presented Turkish directors during Toronto International Film Festival
1990 Furuzan, Gulsun Karamustafa
1991 Omer kavur
1992 Nizamettin Aric
1997 Dervis Zaim
1999 Yesim Ustaoglu
1990
Programme Organized by E. Akman on behalf of Turkish Culture and Folklore Society
Turkish Film Festival, North York, Ontario, Canada
October 10-13, 1990 at Fairview Library Theatre, North York, Ontario, Canada
My Aunt / Teyzem/ Halit Refig
After Yesterday, Before Tomorrow/ Dunden Once Yarindan Sonra/ Nisan Akman
Summer is Over/ Yaz Bitti /Zeki Alasya
Any Woman/ Herhangi Bir Kadin / Serif Goren
1993
Animation Programme / Toronto Animated Image Society
1993 Japaneese Animation Programme/ Art Gallery of Ontario

1996
Czech Cinema and Literature/
Cinematheque Ontario
Pasific Cinematheque, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Canadian Film Institute, Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Waterloo University, Waterloo Ontario, Canada
1996
Jan 10- Feb 11, 1996 / New Turkish Cinema
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Film Institute, Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Waterloo University, Waterloo Ontario, Canada
Motherland Hotel/ Anayurt Oteli / Omer Kavur 1987
Daydreams of Miss Cazibe / Cazibe Hanimin Gunduz Dusleri /Irfan Tozum 1993
Walking on Fire / Ates Ustunde Yurumek/ Yavuz Ozkan 1991
Berlin in Berlin/ Sinan Cetin 1993
Two Women /Iki Kadin / Yavuz Ozkan 1992
Dream Travellers/ Dus Gezginleri / Atif Yilmaz 1992
Initiated a campaign for the installation of a Toronto Historical Board plaque
at the site of the first moving picture show on the occasion of the Centennial of Cinema


1995-1999
Interviews about Turkish Cinema / CIUT Toronto,
Interview about Turkish Cinema / CHIN Radio,November 1, 1997
Interviews about Turkish Cinema / Voice of America, Washington DC
Voice of America interview (in Turkish)


1999
May 1 -June 27, 1999 / New Turkish Cinema
Freer and Sackler Galeries, Washington DC
The Bandit / Eskiya / Yavuz Turgul 1966
Somersault in a Coffin / Tabutta Rovesata / Dervis Zaim 1966
Lobster Pot / Yengec Sepeti / Yavuz Ozkan 1994
Innocence / Masumiyet / Zeki Demirkubuz 1998
Journey on the Clock Hand / Akrebin Yolculugu / Omer Kavur 1997
Traces / Iz / Yesim Ustaoglu
A Boat Anchored in the Desert / Colde Yanliz bir Gemi / Basar Sabuncu 1993
The Town / Kasaba / Nuri Bilge Ceylan 1997
Cholera Street / Agir Roman / Mustafa Altioklar 1998
1999-2002
New Turkish Cinema Fall-Spring
6 Feature Films / University of Boston
A Boat Anchored in the Desert / Colde Yanliz bir Gemi / Basar Sabuncu 1993
Everything's Gonna be Great / Hersey Cok Guzel Olacak / Omer Vargi 1998
Mr. Muhsin / Muhsin Bey / Yavuz Turgul 1986
Somersault in a Coffin / Tabutta Rovasata / Dervis Zaim 1996
Cholera Street / Agir Roman / Mustafa Altioklar 1998
The Wound / Yara /
Presented Turkish films during Filmfest DC International Film Festival 2000
Harem Suare / Propaganda / Journey to Sun
Presented Turkish film during Filmfest DC International Film Festival 2001
Run For Money / Kac Para Kac / Reha Erdem 1999
Presented Turkish film during Filmfest DC International Film Festival 2002
Vizontele / Yilmaz Erdogan, Omer Faruk Sorak 2001

Latest Voice of America interview after FilmfestDC 2002 (in Turkish)

Organized TURKISH FILM FORUM
Friday June 8, 2001 at the Turkish Embassy for DC film community to seek advice on how to make Turkish Films available for public and discuss Turkish Film Programs in USA
Guest Curator NEW TURKISH CINEMA AT THE FREER AND SACKLER GALLERIES, September-October 2001
Run for Money / Kac Para Kac / Reha Erdem 1999
Third Page / Ucuncu Sayfa / Zeki Demirkubuz 1999
House of Angels / Melekler Evi/ Omer Kavur 2000
Double feature:
A Madonna in Laleli/ Laleli'de Bir Madonna / Kudret Sabanci 1998
On Board / Gemide/ Serdar Akar 1998
Balalayka / Ali Ozgenturk 2000
Clouds of May / Nuri Bilge Ceylan 2000

Copyright ©2001 Turkish Cinema Newsletter, Washington D.C.

M. K. Ataturk (1881- 1938) on Cinema

M. K. Ataturk (1881- 1938) Founder and First President of Turkish Republic
Sinema öyle bir kesiftir ki bir gün gelecek barutun, elektrigin ve kitalarin kesfinden çok, dünya uygarliginin görünüsünü degistirecegi görülecektir. Sinema dünyanin en uzak uçlarinda oturan insanlarin birbirlerini tanimalarini, sevmelerini saglayacaktir. Sinema, insanlar arasindaki görüs, görünüs farklarini silecek, insanlik ülküsünün gerçeklesmesine en büyük yardimi yapacaktir. Sinemaya layik oldugu önemi vermeliyiz

"A day will come when the invention of the cinema will seem to have changed the face of the world more than the invention of gun powder, electricity or the discovery of new continents. The cinema will make it possible for people living in the most remote comers of the earth to get to know and love one another. The cinema will remove differences of thought and outlook, and will be of great assistance in realising the ideals of humanity. It is essential that we treat the cinema with the importance it deserves." (1937)
English Translation by Billie Uluisik

"Un jour viendra où l'on verra que le cinéma aura bien plus changé la face du monde que la découverte de la poudre, de l'électricité ou de nouveaux continents. Le cinéma permettra aux hommes répartis aux quatre coins de la Terre de mieux se connaître et de s'apprécier. Le cinéma supprimera les différences de vue et d'opinion; il contribuera de façon primordiale à la réalisation des idéaux de l'humanité. Nous devons reconnaître au cinéma l'importance qu'il mérite."(1937)
French Translation by Maurice Asseo

"Der Tag wird kommen, wenn die Erfindung des Films das Antlitz der Welt wesentlicher veraendert zu haben scheint als die Erfindung des Schwarzpulvers, der Elektrizitaet oder der Entdeckung neuer Kontinente. Der Film ermoeglicht es, dass Menschen in den entfernesten Teilen der Welt sich kennenlernen und einander zugeneigt fuehlen koennen. Der Film wird die Unterschiede zwischen Gedanken und Gesichtspunkten ueberbruecken, und er wird einen grossen Beitrag leisten zur Erlangung der humnitaeren Ideale. Es ist daher wichtig, dass wir dem Film das Ansehen geben, welches er verdient." (1937)
German Translation by Dieter A. Thiemann

Sinema öyle bir kesiftir ki bir gün gelecek barutun, elektrigin ve kitalarin kesfinden çok, dünya uygarliginin görünüsünü degistirecegi görülecektir. Sinema dünyanin en uzak uçlarinda oturan insanlarin birbirlerini tanimalarini, sevmelerini saglayacaktir. Sinema, insanlar arasindaki görüs, görünüs farklarini silecek, insanlik ülküsünün gerçeklesmesine en büyük yardimi yapacaktir. Sinemaya layik oldugu önemi vermeliyiz

Reprinted from Turkish Cinema Newsletter Copyright ©1996 - 2003, Washington D.C.