43rd Istanbul Film Festival kicks off

Speaking at the opening program held at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall (CRR) on the occasion of the 43rd Istanbul Film Festival, Festival Director Kerem Ayan expressed his delightat reuniting with the audience for another year.The festival, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, runs from April 17 to 28.

Ayan said honorary awards will be presented to Wim Wenders, one of the master directors of world cinema, and Japanese actor Koji Yakusho at the festival's closing ceremony.

Ayan said that 43 years ago, the first screening of the festival was held at Konak Cinema in Sisli, and since then, they have continued to screen films in Beyoglu, Sisli, and Kadikoy.

At the opening ceremony, this year's Cinema Honor Awards were presented to director and screenwriter Engin Ayca and actress Meral Orhonsay.

Ayca, known for his documentaries and cultural programs, also made significant contributions to fiction filmmaking and filmmaker training, said, "I would like to thank everyone. I would like to thank my mother, my father, and all my friends who contributed to my work in cinema. I would also like to thank my dear friend and wife Gulsen Tuncer, who brought me here and carried me all the way here."

Meral Orhonsay, one of the actresses of "Yesilcam," who starred in more than 60 films and received many awards throughout her career, pointed out that master directors such as Zeki Okten, Atif Yilmaz and Yavuz Ozkan, who lost their lives, made a great contribution to Turkish cinema in the face of impossibilities. She said, "I would like to commemorate them here again tonight with respect and love, with my sincerest feelings. I also greet all our friends who contributed to all these films with respect."

During the ceremony, General Director of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts Gorgun Taner presented plaques of appreciation to the institutions and organizations that contributed to the festival.

Following the opening ceremony, the action comedy film "Hit Man," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, was screened.

The 43rd Istanbul Film Festival presents a rich program of 132 feature films and 12 short films, including the latest examples of world cinema, cult works, master directors and the latest films of young talents.

In addition to film screenings, the festival will bring moviegoers together for 12 days with talks, special screenings and events with the participation of guest directors and actors.

The festival program is available at "film.iksv.org."

Source: Newsroom & AA