Locarno Film Festival 2008

Mexican film-maker Enrique Rivero on Saturday took home the top prize of Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival with his film "Parque Via," about a man who has put himself in voluntary seclusion.
The special jury prize went to "33 Scenes from Life," by Polish Malgoska Szumowska, exploring the angst of a young woman coping with her mother's illness. The award for best direction was handed to Canadian Denis Cote for "Elle veut le chaos." Meanwhile, the public's pick for best film went to British filmmaker Garth Jenning's "Son of Rambow," a comedy about two adolescents trying to remake the film "Rambo." Illaria Occhini was tapped best actress for her role in "Mar Nero," while Tayanc Ayaydin took best actor for his performance in "The Market - A Tale of Trade."

Turkish films in Locarno Film Festival Competition

With 17 films confirmed to date, from 16 different countries, the selection for 2008 reflects the great diversity of current cinema – note the presence of an Irish filmmaker in competition for the first time since 1982, and a first film from Turkey, a country absent from the competition for nine years. The 2008 selection once again gives pride of place to young auteurs, with no less than 6 first films, and 4 second films. But discoveries are also measured in terms of what is entirely new, and this year there are 12 world and 5 international premières.

The 2008 competition is also distinguished by the recurrence of stories marked by economic and social themes. British filmmaker Ben Hopkins, noted for Simon Magus and The Nine Lives of Thomas Katz, delivers a fable of modern times about money and commerce, filmed in Turkey with local actors "The Market – A Tale of Trade."

SONBAHAR (Autumn)
Acquired for world sales during the festival, by Medialuna.
by Özcan Alper – Turkey/Germany – 2008 – 106 min.
with Onur Saylak Yusuf, Megi Koboladze Eka, R. Gulefer Yenigul, Serkan Keskin, Nini
Levaja Production: Kusey Film Production Co–productions: Film Fabrik Spiel-und Dokumentarfilmproduktion International Première – First Film

THE MARKET – A TALE OF TRADE (PAZAR - BIR TICARET MASALI)
by Ben Hopkins – Germany/Great Britain/Turkey/Kazakhstan – 2007 – 93 min.
with Tayanç Ayaydin, Genco Erkal, Senay Aydin, Hakan Sahin, Rojin
Production: Flying Moon Productions International Sales: The Works International
World Première