Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Berlinale 2006 | DER LEBENSVERSICHERER

DER LEBENSVERSICHERER
RUNNING ON EMPTY
L’ASSUREUR VIE
Regie: Bulent Akinci
Perspektive Deutsches Kino

Deutschland 2005
Lange 100 Min.
Format 35 mm, 1:1.85
Farbe

Cast
Burkhard Wagner Jens Harzer
Carolin Marina Galic
Heike Anna Maria Muhe
Charlie Christian Blumel
Walter Rosler Tom Jahn
Rashid Mehdi Nebbou
Frau Hufschmidt Eva Mannschott
Herr Hauser Oliver Marlo
Busfahrerin Birgit Funke
Frau Wokalek Patrizia Moresco
Herr Wokalek Hussi Kutlucan
Autowascher Daniel Jeroma
Philippe Lukas Weerts
Larissa Irina Potapenko
Jens Harzer

Stabliste
Buch Bulent Akinci
Kamera Henner Besuch
Schnitt Inge Schneider
Tina Baz
Ton Patrick Veigel
Musik Wim Mertens
Szenenbild Benedikt Lange
Kostum Dagmar Fabisch
Regieassistenz Franca Drewes
Produktionsltg. Kathrin Isberner
Eva-Maria Weerts
Produzenten Roman Paul
Gerhard Meixner
Co-Produzenten ZDF, Mainz
DFFB, Berlin
Redaktion Claudia Tronnier, ZDF
Produktion
Razor Film Produktion GmbH
Legiendamm 40
D-10969 Berlin
Tel.: 030-614 58 65
Fax: 030-61 20 18 63
info@razor-film.de
Weltvertrieb noch offen

RUNNING ON EMPTY
He knew it would take a long time – but this long?
Insurance salesman Burkhard Wagner left his family promising them a better
life on his return. All he has to do is sell enough policies. But time drags on
and Burkhard turns into the Flying Dutchman of Germany’s motorways. His
contact with his family now boils down to him leaving the odd report on
the answering machine. Nevertheless, Burkhard sticks resolutely to his plan.
But then, shortly before he has sold all his policies, he runs out of steam –
mentally and spiritually.

He meets luckless Carolin at a motorway service station. Business at Carolin’s
small hotel by the motorway has been in the doldrums for years but here,
after years of restless perigrinating, Burkhard at last finds a bit of peace and
happiness. The pair share a love of French chansons and are both lonely –
in spite of being together.

But somebody like Burkhard isn’t the type who sticks around. Carolin seems
to realise this more than anyone. And this is why she accompanies him, like
a guardian angel, on his last and most difficult journey – back to real life.

Bulent Akinci
Biografy

Born in Ankara on 10.3.1967, he moved to
Berlin in 1970. He was a musician, security
guard and an insurance salesman before
taking final school examinations and study-
ing philosophy, art history, drama and film
at the FU in Berlin. He took up studies at
the German Film and Television Academy in
Berlin in 1996. DER LEBENSVERSICHERER is
his first feature-length drama.

Filmografie
Kurzfilme
1996 WAS VOM LEBEN ÜBRIG BLEIBT
Dokumentarfilm
1997 EINES LANGEN AUGENBLICKES
REISE IN DIE NACHT
1998 KALTE
1999 DIE LETZTEN BILDER
2000 BROKEN
2001 EINE KLEINE GESCHICHTE
2005 DER LEBENSVERSICHERER

Article from UK | Fate by Demirkubuz

Fate

Phillip French
Sunday February 5, 2006
The Observer


Albert Camus's great philosophical novel, L'Etranger, published in Britain as The Outsider, was filmed in 1967 by Luchino Visconti with Marcello Mastroianni as Meursault, the affectless French-Algerian who kills an Arab for no particular reason in pre-World War Two Algiers and tells us his story while waiting to face the guillotine. The movie wasn't a success. Nor is Fate, Zeki Demirkubuz's transposition of the book to present-day Istanbul, where Meursault (played with appropriate blankness by Serdar Orcin) becomes Musa, a clerk in a shipping office, living with his elderly mother. In this version the hero is framed for a double murder and gets married. But generally the film is faithful to Camus's notion of Meursault as a seemingly conscienceless man, who is in fact at odds with society (and condemned) because he speaks the truth about the essential meaninglessness of life. The film is not without interest, but in attempting to capture the novel's laconic prose it becomes flat and unvaried in its rhythms.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Berlinale 2006 / Offside - Eine andere Liga



Offside - Eine andere Liga / Germany, 2005, 110 min

Director: Buket Alakus Cast: Karoline Herfurth, Thierry van Werveke, Ken Duken

OFFSIDE
For Hayat, a 20-year-old girl of Turkish-German background, football is the most important thing in her life. She’s the best and most spirited player on her football team. But all of a sudden she’s got other things to think about. The doctors diagnose breast cancer. The operation changes her life, but she’s a fighter and soon wants to pick up where she left off.
Hayat grew up with her father Baba Can – her mother died of cancer when Hayat was still a small child. No wonder that Baba Can is worried about his daughter. He forbids her to overdo and most of all to play football, and cancels her membership in the team. But he hasn’t reckoned with the tenacity of his daughter. Behind his back she joins up with ragtag bunch of social misfits who make up the Hamburg woman’s football team FC Schanze. Soon the girls are swept along by her courage and enthusiasm. Not only the team, but above all the trainer Toni is impressed by her. But he can’t seem to understand why his attempts to flirt with her are nipped in the bud. Hayat is no less attracted to him, but for obvious reasons, she feels com­plete­ly insecure. Should she confide her secret to him? How will he react when she tells him about the operation?

OFFSIDE, the director explains, is “not a story about an illness, but rather deals with finding a way back into life. In this extreme situation football becomes literally a game of life or death for my protagonist, because sports help her to accept her body anew.”

Buket Alakus Biography
Born in Istanbul in 1971, she grew up in Hamburg. After finishing her studies in communication at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin, she began studying film directing at the University of Hamburg in 1996. After completing a number of short films, she directed her first feature filmANAM in
2000, which was awarded among other things the Audience Award at Filmfest Hamburg and the Prix Europa. She is currently working on the feature films BABA OGLU and MAX 259.

Lange 110 Min.
Format 35 mm, 1:1.85
Farbe
Stabliste
Buch Buket Alakus
Jan Berger
Kamerafuhrung Bella Halben
Kameraassistenz Enno Grabenhorst
Daniel Leibold
Schnitt Andreas Radtke
Schnittassistenz Jessica Ehlebracht
Sounddesign Andreas Henke
Ton Corinna Zink
Michael Kunz
Mischung Sascha Heiny
Musik Ali N. Askin
Musik-Consulting Jan Kopke
Christoph Wieland
Szenenbild Iris Trescher
Requisite Endres Lober
Britta Leiter
Spezialeffekte Endres Lober
Kostum Rike Russig
Maske Kathi Kullack
Samira Ghassabeh
Regieassistenz Karen Brunnbauer
Casting Deborah Congia
Herstellungsltg. Mohammad
Farokhmanesh
Produktionsltg. Christian
Vennefrohne
Aufnahmeleitung Anke Homburg
Produzenten Ralph Schwingel
Stefan Schubert
Producer Bjorn Vosgerau
Redaktion Burkhard Althoff, ZDF
Das kleine Fernseh-
spiel, Mainz
mit Arte, Strasbourg
Produktion
Wuste Filmproduktion
Schulterblatt 58
D-20357 Hamburg
Tel.: 040-431 70 60
Fax: 040-430 00 12
www.wuestefilm.de
wueste@wuestefilm.de
Weltvertrieb
Bavaria Film International
Bavariafilmplatz 8
D-82031 Geiselgasteig
Tel.: 089-64 99 26 86
Fax: 089-64 99 37 20
www.bavaria-film-international.de
bavaria.international@bavaria-film.de
Toni Ken Duken
Baba Can Thierry van Werveke
Ali Zarah Jane McKenzie
Silke Verena Wolfien
Arztin Katrin Pollitt
Hayats Chefin Nursel Köse
Trainerin, SC Elbe Charlotte Crome
Spielerinnen des
FC Schanze
Fatos Aziza A. Yildirim
Biggi Paula Paul
Viva Nneka Egbuna
Susan Nikola Kastner
Babs Ruth Weyand
Maja Cecile Decker
Nana Sung-Hee Son
Momo Jana Nietner
Alex Claudia Detloff
Karoline Herfurth, Ken Duken


Friday, February 03, 2006

In Memoriam : İlhan Arakon


İlhan Arakon (b, 1915 Edirne-February 3, 2006, Istanbul)
İLHAN G. ARAKON

Türk Sinemasında sanatçı ve eğitimci kişiliğiyle önemli bir yeri olan, görüntü yönetmeni, sanat yönetmeni, yönetmen olarak 400‘ün üzerinde film yapan, ülkemizdeki ilk sinema eğitimini başlatan Sinema-TV Enstitüsü‘nde Prof.Sami Şekeroğlu başkanlığındaki ilk eğitim kadrosunda Lütfi Akad, Metin Erksan, Halit Refiğ ile birlikte yer alan İlhan Arakon,1916'da doğdu.

1944'de profesyonel olarak görüntü yönetmenliği yapmaya başladı. 1951'de yönetmenliğini kardeşi Aydın Arakon'un yaptığı "İstanbul'un Fethi" adlı filmde Görüntü Yönetmeni olarak muhteşem sahneler yarattı. 1953'de ilk renkli Türk belgeselini, aynı yıl ilk konulu renkli Türk filmi olan "Salgın"ı çekti. Ülkemizde ilk kez sinemaskop film denemeleri yaptı ve bu teknikle çok sayıda film çekti. Türkiye'deki ilk haber ajansı olan A.D.S.'yi kurarak habercilik alanında öncü oldu. Ülkemizdeki ilk Televizyon yayınını başlatan Teknik Üniversite Televizyonunun kuruluşunda Prof.Dr. Adnan Ataman ile birlikte çalıştı.

50 yılı aşkın bir süredir Türk Sineması içinde ürün veren Arakon, "Gençlik Günahı", "İstanbul'un Fethi", "Hıçkırık", "Kadın Asla Unutmaz", "Vahşi Çiçek", "Aşk-ı Memnu" gibi gerek teknik gerekse estetik yönden üstün yapımlarda görüntü yönetmeni ve sanat yönetmeni olarak çalıştı. Ayrıca "Eski Evler Eski Ustalar", "Dünya Durdukça" (Mimar Sinan belgeseli) gibi kültürel birikimimizi ele alan belgesellerde teknik danışmanlık ve görüntü yönetmenliği yaptı. Yurt içinde ve dışında bir çok ödül kazandı.

1974'de Prof.Sami Şekeroğlu tarafından İstanbul Devlet Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi Sinema-TV Enstitüsü'nde başlatılan eğitim çalışmalarına katıldı ve ülkemizde ilk kez akademik düzeyde sinema eğitimi veren Sinema-TV Enstitüsü‘nde Öğretim Görevlisi olarak çalışmaya başladı. Bu tarihten başlayarak son nefesine kadar bu kurumdan ayrılmadı.

Sinema-TV Enstitüsü‘nden başlayarak bugünki adıyla Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi Güzel Sanatlar Fakültesi Sinema-TV Bölümü‘nde kesintisiz olarak 32 yıl lisans, Yüksek Lisans ve Sanatta Yeterlik kademelerinde dersler verdi. Gerek teorik gerekse uygulamalı derslerde profesyonel alanda edindiği bilgi ve deneyimlerini öğrencilerine aktardı.

1997 yılında Mimar Sinan Üniversitesi Senatosu kararı ile kendisine Fahri Profesör ünvanı verildi.

İlhan G.Arakon‘u, 3 Şubat 2006 Cuma günü kaybettik. Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi Sinema-TV Merkezi‘nde 4 Şubat 2006 Cumartesi günü saat 11.30‘da yapılacak törenin ardından aynı gün Zincirlikuyu Mezarlığı içindeki camide kılınacak ikindi namazını takiben Zincirlikuyu‘daki aile mezarlığında toprağa verilecektir.


As Director
1. Şahinler Diyarı (1971)
2. Garipler Adası (1955)

As Cinematographer
1. Ormanın Ruhsal Sağlıkla İlgisi (1973)
2. Ormanların Ekonomik Değeri (1973)
3. Ormancılığımızda Dün ve Bugün (1973)
4. Ormanları Koruma (1973)
5. Orman Yetiştirme, Ağaçlandırma (1973)
6. Orman-Köy İlişkileri (1973)
7. Orman Endüstrisi (1973)
8. Ayşecik Bahar Çiçeği (1971)
9. Bütün Anneler Melektir (1971)
10. Kezban Paris`te (1971)
11. Severek Ayrılalım (1971)
12. Vahşi Çiçek (1971)
13. Yarın Ağlayacağım (1971)
14. Tamam mı Canım? (1971)
15. Adsız Cengaver (1970)
16. Atsız Cengaver (1970)
17. Kezban Roma`da (1970)
18. Kadın Asla Unutmaz (Nisan Yağmuru) (1968)
19. Kezban (1968)
20. Kederli Günlerim (1967)
21. Samanyolu (1967)
22. Hıçkırık (1965)
23. Tanrının Bağışı Orman (1964)
24. Bir Gazetenin Hikayesi (1964)
25. Unilever (1964)
26. Zümrüt (Siyah Yıldızlar) (1959)
27. Pusu (1957)
28. Büyük Sır (1956)
29. Kalbimin Şarkısı (1956)
30. Garipler Adası (1955)
31. Gün Doğarken (1955)
32. Kaçak (1954)
33. Salgın (1954)
34. Köroğlu - Türkan Sultan (1953)
35. Ankara Ekspresi (1952)
36. Kanlı Çiftlik (1952)
37. Kızıltuğ (1952)
38. Yurda Dönüş (1952)
39. İstanbul`un Fethi (1951)
40. Vatan İçin (1951)
41. Bir Fırtına Gecesi (1950)
42. Ayşe`nin Duası (1949)
43. Çığlık (1949)
44. Efsuncu Baba (1949)
45. Uçuruma Doğru (1949)
46. Dinmeyen Sızı (Sonsuz Izdırap) (1949)
47. Dümbüllü Macera Peşinde (1948)
48. Efe Aşkı (1948)
49. Gençlik Günahı (1947)
50. Seven Ne Yapmaz (1947)

As Writer
1. Şahinler Diyarı (1971)
2. Garipler Adası (1955)

As Producer
1. Şahinler Diyarı (1971)

Awards
1955 Türk Film Dostları Derneği/ Best Cinmematography with (Kaçak)
17.İstanbul Film Festivali, 1998 Lifetime honour Award

Rotterdam 2006



Razan
(USA/Turkey)
USA/Turkey 2006
director:Aslihan Unaldi
production:New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, Dep. Gratuate, Thomas Perry
sales:Aslihan Unaldi
print:Aslihan Unaldi
scenario:Aslihan Unaldi
cast:hd Kamel, Sami Mitwasi, Elena Zazanis, J. Teddy Garces
camera:Rob Hauer
editor:Tocinovski Milan Sako, Aslihan Unaldi
art direction Mark Jackson, Etienne Kallos
sound:Hakim Robinson, Lihi Orbach
length:10'
A young woman has decided to blow herself up in a suicide attack. After she has strapped on the explosive belt and walks the street in the crowds, she starts to have her doubts.


Harmonia mundi
(Turkey) Turkey 2005
director:Veysel Gencten
production:Veysel Gencten
sales:Veysel Gencten
print:Veysel Gencten
scenario:Veysel Gencten
cast:Hulya Safak
camera:Veysel Gencten
editor:Veysel Gencten
music:Omer Faruk Tekbilek
length:6'

A colourful time-lapse portrait of Istanbul and the way in which life in the city on the Bosporus passes. Adorned with an impressive series of sunsets, the film flirts with the borders of kitsch.

Two Turkish projects at Cinemart 2006

GITMEK, Huseyin Karabey, Ajans 21 (Turkey)
YUMURTA, Semih Kaplanoglu, Kaplan Film Yapim (Turkey)

23rd CineMart
January 29 - February 2, 2006

CineMart
Karel Doormanstraat 278-B
3012 GP Rotterdam
The Netherlands


International Film Festival Rotterdam
CineMart
phone: +31 10 890 90 90
fax: +31 10 890 90 91
e-mail: cinemart@
filmfestivalrotterdam.com

WAITING FOR THE CLOUDS by Yesim Ustaoglu, CineMart 2002 was screened at Berlinale Panorama in 2005

Berlinale Entry: 37 Uses of a Dead Sheep


37 Uses of a Dead Sheep/Photo: Nikki Parrott

This UK/Turkey coproduction made it to Berlinale's Forum Section for 2006

Brief synopsis:Until 25 years ago, the Kirghiz tribe lived a quasi-Iron Age existence in one of the remotest places on earth. Now, having migrated an amazing five times, they live in Turkey, a tribe divided. Those over 30 pine for their nomadic history and the rugged mountains of their homeland; the young have a modern education and live in a world of pop music and internet cafés.
A feature-length mix of the ethnographic and authored documentary forms, the collaboration between distinctive director Ben Hopkins and the Kirghiz tribe makes this film a unique record of a unique people.

Format: DigiBeta
Year of production: 2005
Running time: 85 mins
Director: Ben Hopkins
Co-Producers: Natasha Dack, Nikki Parrott, Ben Hopkins
Editor: Marco van Welzen
Screenwriter: Ben Hopkins
Director of Photography: Gary Clarke
Music: Paul Lewis
Principal Cast: The Kirghiz tribe
Production Company:Tigerlily Films Studio 17 The Whitechapel Centre Myrdle Street
London E1 1HL, England
Telephone +44 (0)20 7247 1107
info@tigerlilyfilms.com
Sales Agent:Electric Sky 1 Clifton Mews Clifton Hill Brighton BN1 3HR, England
Telephone +44 (0)12 7322 4240
Fax +44 (0)12 7322 4250
info@electricsky.com
www.electricsky.com


Ben Hopkins
Born in Hong Kong in 1969, director Ben Hopkins always wanted to be a writer. He wrote his first poems at nine, a novel at twelve, and it was only following a trip to the Everyman Cinema in the leafy London suburb of Hampstead that he was bitten by the movie bug. Hopkins read Modern Languages at Oxford, directing his first play as an 18-year-old undergraduate and winning the Oxford Dramatic Society's Best Director Award. His Royal College of Art graduation film National Achievement Day won a string of awards. Hopkins has described his early short films as 'shite' but Robert Jones (The Usual Suspects) was impressed enough to produce his debut feature Simon Magus.

BEN HOPKINS FILMOGRAPHY
2000 The Nine Lives of Thomas Katz
1998 Simon Magus

Agent: Jane Fuller Associates, 10 Golden Square London W1R 3AF
Tel: +44 20 7494 2067
Fax: +44 20 7734 9147
Email: jfa@dircon.co.uk