Turkish cinema to be introduced at Berlin Film Festival

By Yasemin Kalyoncuoglu

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish cinema will again take its place at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival, one of Europe's leading film festivals.

This year's Berlinale will be organized in two sections for sector representatives online on March 1-5 and for the audience on June 9-20, due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Films shot in 2020 and feature-length fiction and documentary films under production will be displayed during the European Film Market Turkey section.

Also, Foreign Film Production Support in Turkey will be introduced to international film professionals. A new cinema law entered into force in Turkey which enables support of up to 30% of the amount that foreign filmmakers spend in Turkey.

During the festival, Turkey's increasing competitiveness in the industry and its natural film plateau will be underlined.

Among the jury members of the main contest, where 15 films will compete for the grand prize this year, are Mohammad Rasoulof, Nadav Lapid, Adina Pintilie, Ildiko Enyedi, Gianfranco Rosi and Jasmila Zbanic, who won the Golden Bear in previous years.

The Turkish movie "School Haircut," directed by Ferit Karahan and produced by Kanat Dogramaci, will be shown in the festival's Panorama section.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar