11th Bosphorus Film Festival winners announced

By Ahmed Esad Sani

ISTANBUL (AA) - Winners of the 11th Bosphorus Film Festival, which was organized by the Bogazici Culture and Arts Foundation, were announced Saturday.

The festival, which was held with the support of the General Directorate of Cinema of the Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, ended with an award ceremony at the Ataturk Cultural Center in Istanbul's Taksim Square.

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony of the festival, whose Global Communication Partner was Anadolu Agency (AA), President Ogun Sanlier said a very nice festival was prepared in a in a very short time. "We have prepared a compact festival and completed our 11th year. I am extremely happy about that," he said.

Sanlier thanked the people, institutions and organizations that supported the organization, as well as international guests and participants.

Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Batuhan Mumcu said his ministry attaches great importance to the development of the art of cinema.

"As every year, we continue to increase our support in all areas of cinema art, from script and dialogue writing to short films, from feature length to documentaries," he said. "I also congratulate the festival management for not being indifferent to this human tragedy that is happening before the eyes of the world, by including works from Palestinian cinema.

Emphasizing that Palestinian selections at the festival again drew attention to Israel's oppression, Mumcu said: "Our country has been trying to announce the massacre in Gaza to the world and to be the voice of Palestine since the first day. I hope this oppression will end as soon as possible."

- Winners of the festival

In the National Feature Film Competition, which has continued its journey uninterruptedly since 2013, "Mommy's Lambie" won the best feature film award, while the film's director, Umut Evirgen, also in that category.

Yigit Kucukkibar won best screenplay" for "A Few Days Before Sunset," and Selin Sekerci was chosen best actress for her role in "Mommy's Lambie."

Ugur Gunes best actor for his performance in "A Few Days Before Sunset."

Additionally, Sebastian Weber won best cinematography for "Mommy's Lambie," Umut Sakallioglu for editing "A Few Days Before Sunset" and Mirac Atabey best first feature for "A Hero of Our Time."

"A Few Days Before Sunset" also received the Fiyab best producer award.

The Golden Dolphin Award in the best film category of the International Feature Competition went to "A House in Jerusalem."

The Special Jury Award went to "Ama Gloria" while Muayad Alayan won best director for "A House in Jerusalem."

Saar Rogiers was chosen best actress for her role in "Sea Sparkle," while Hamid Reza Abbasi won best actor for his performance in "Empty Nets."

In the National Documentary Film Competition, "Game Over" won the national documentary and Catman won the Special Jury Award.

"Highway of a Broken Heart" won the Ahmet Ulucay Grand Prize in the short fiction category while "Wolf's Box" won the National Short Fiction Film Award and "Silhouette" won the Best International Short Fiction Film Award.

The "Istanbul Media Academy Young Talent" award was received by Can Baran's film "Apartment Empty."

Many winners at the 11th Bosphorus Film Festival, which included films that brought the drama in Palestine to the big screen, talked in their speeches about the massacre in the Gaza Strip where Israel has continued its attacks since Oct. 7.

The award ceremony was attended by Ministry of Culture and Tourism Cinema General Director Erkin Yilmaz; Ministry of Culture and Tourism Ministry Research and Education General Director Selim Terzi; Turkish Armed Forces Foundation General Manager Bilal Topcu; Anadolu Agency Director-General and CEO Serdar Karagoz; Beyoglu Mayor Haydar Ali Yildiz; Turkcell Deputy General Manager Murat Akguc; Turkcell Corporate Communications Director Mustafa Alcan; State Theaters General Manager Tamer Karadagli and Festival Artistic Director Samed Karagoz, as well as local and foreign filmmakers who were in the jury of the festival and guests.