9th Bosphorus Film Festival to welcome visitors in person in Istanbul

By Aise Humeyra Bulovali

ISTANBUL (AA) – The 9th Bosphorus Film Festival will be open to visitors in Istanbul from Oct. 23 to Oct. 30, organizers said on Thursday.

The festival will not be held online and is set to be attended by people from Turkey and abroad, according to Emrah Kilic, the event’s artistic director.

The festival will be held with the slogan “Despite Everything,” a reference to the issues brought about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We did not have international guests last year due to the pandemic. We are excited to welcome our international guests, jury members, and industry professionals in person this year,” Kilic said.

It is imperative to move forward with such events to support independent cinema, he added.

He said the jury members include people who have been part of film festivals around the globe.

“We have invited people of all ages, from all walks of life, and with all political views. We are trying to appeal everyone,” Kilic said.

The festival will open with Bosnian director Danis Tanovic’s film Not So Friendly Neighborhood Affair, which made its world premiere at the 27th Sarajevo Film Festival in August.

The last screening will be on Oct. 29 of director Will Sharpe’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, which stars British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy.

The screenings will be at Atlas 1948 on Istanbul’s European side and Kadikoy Cinemas on the metropolis’ Asian side.

Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner for the festival.

All details are available on the event’s website – www.bogazicifilmfestivali.com – and social media accounts.​​​​​​​