The 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival Concludes with an Award Ceremony. At the ceremony, Ayşe and Mukadderat were the most awarded films.
Haşim KILIÇ
THE 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, organized by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, concluded with an award ceremony. Mukadderat, directed by Nadim Güç, won the Best Film award; while Necmi Sancak, with his direction of Ayşe, won the Best Director award. Additionally, Mukadderat also received the Best Actress (Nur Sürer) and Best Supporting Actor (Osman Sonant) awards. Ayşe not only took home the Best Director Golden Orange but also won Best First Film, Best Actress (Binnur Kaya), and the Best Director award from the Film Directors’ Guild.
COPYRIGHT FEES WILL BE PAID
The award ceremony, hosted by Şebnem Dönmez at the Glass Pyramid, began with a concert by the Barabar Group, founded by actors Serkan Keskin and Taner Ölmez. Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and festival president Muhittin Böcek stated, “This year, for the first time during the Cinema Workshop at our festival, we made a decision with all stakeholders in the industry. As a result of our discussions with the Federation of Cinema Owners, we will pay the copyright fees for all the films shown at the festival.”
STUDENT AWARDS
The first award of the night, which was also a first for the festival, was for the Student Film Competition. The jury, composed of director Handan İpekçi, producer Aycan Çetin, and SETEM (Association of Cinema and Television Works) President Mehmet Güleryüz, presented the awards. The Student Films Jury Special Award went to Döngü by Ramazan Yakut from Kastamonu University, while the Best Film award was won by Sistem by Abdülhalim Erez from Maltepe University.
BEST SHORT FILMS
The National Short Film Jury, composed of actor-director Derya Durmaz, directors Pınar Göktaş and Erdem Tepegöz, awarded Mükemmel (Perfect) directed by Ece Dizdar with the Jury Special Award, and Neredeyse Kesinlikle Yanlış (Almost Certainly Wrong) directed by Cansu Bayrak with the Best Short Film award. In her acceptance speech, Bayrak said, “I salute all those who have resisted censorship to this day. We will not give up on our rights or our lives.”
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS
The National Documentary Film Jury, consisting of director-academic Nurdan Tümbek, directors Jale İncekol, and Ahmet Yeşiltepe, awarded the Jury Special Award to Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu: Those Who Unlock the Secrets of the Earth, directed by Ali Kemal Pasiner; while the Best Documentary award went to Kadranı Olmayan Saat (The Clock Without Hands) directed by Fatma Karakuş Kaçmaz.
INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS
This year, 12 films from 18 countries competed in the International Feature Film Competition. The results were announced by a jury led by Iranian filmmaker Mahmud Kalhari, with members director Ayşe Polat, Italian screenwriter-author Ludovica Rampoldi, film critic Selin Gürel, and cinematographer Mehmet Aksın. Nadir Seivar won the Jury Special Award for his film Witness, which he accepted with the words, “This award is not mine; it belongs to the 1,500 young women in Iran who were killed after taking to the streets. I hold this award in trust for them until the day Iran gains freedom.” The International Jury awarded Vic Carmen Sonne Best Actress for her role in The Girl with the Needle and Franklin Aro Huasco Best Actor for his performance in The Dog Thief, which also earned Vinko Tomicic the Best Director award. The Best Film award in the International Competition went to Don’t You Let Me Go, directed by Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge.
At the 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Mukadderat directed by Nadim Güç, was named Best Film in the National Feature Film Competition, while Ayşe, directed by Necmi Sancak, won Best Director.
The Cahide Sonku Award, presented by actress Hatice Aslan, went to Yağmur Ergül for her film Gülizar, with Elif Kararslan accepting the award on her behalf.
The Best Screenplay award, announced by National Jury President Ferzan Özpetek, went to Ümit Ünal for his film Evcilik. In his acceptance speech, Ünal said, “It takes hundreds of people believing in a screenplay for it to come to life. I want to thank everyone who believed in me, especially Nejat.”
The Best Music award for Balinanın Bilgisi (The Whale’s Wisdom) was won by Serkan Polat, Özgür Alper, and Pınar Bayrak, and presented by National Jury member, musician Mercan Dede.
National Jury member, academic and film critic Melis Behlil presented the Best Editing award to Melike Kasaplar for her work on the film Fidan. The Best Art Direction award went to Meral Aktan for her work on Gülizar, with the film’s producer Murat Yaşar Bayrak accepting on her behalf. The Best Cinematography award went to Murat Has for Balinanın Bilgisi (The Whale’s Wisdom).
KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF WOMEN!
Nejat İşler won Best Actor for his performance in Evcilik, while the Best Actress award was shared by Binnur Kaya for her role in Ayşe and Nur Sürer for her role in Mukadderat. In her acceptance speech, Sürer said, “I am accepting this award for our greatest master, Yılmaz Güney, who passed away in Paris 40 years ago and whose value was often diminished.” She concluded her speech by saying, “Keep your hands off women, children, animals, and trees!” Binnur Kaya added, “I would like to dedicate this award to all the women who devoted their lives to their loved ones and lost their lives in plain sight. Women shouted, raised their voices, and took to the streets, and they were heard and seen. Women have done what needed to be done; now it’s time to take action. We urgently expect those who need to take action to do so!” Both actresses concluded their speeches together by saying, “The Istanbul Convention saves lives.”
A TRIBUTE TO WOMEN FIGHTING FOR EXISTENCE
Ayça Bingöl, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Fidan, presented by actor Cengiz Bozkurt, said, “Honestly, I didn’t expect this award at all,” while thanking the entire team. Osman Sonant, who won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Mukadderat, said, “I dedicate this award to the women who are fighting for their right to live and exist.”
The Behlül Dal First Film Award was presented to Necmi Sancak, director of Ayşe, by Mehmet Aslantuğ. Sancak also received the Best Director award from National Jury President Ferzan Özpetek, saying, “It is very meaningful for me to receive this award for my first film and from Ferzan Özpetek himself.”
Belkıs Bayrak, director of Gülizar, which won the Dr. Avni Tolunay Jury Special Award, said in her acceptance speech: “In the film, we address the trauma that follows sexual harassment. I want to dedicate this award to the women of my country who refuse to remain silent and fight under desperate circumstances, as well as to all the women worldwide who are struggling.”
WE WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE
Nadim Güç, director of Mukadderat, which won the Best Film award, took the stage with his young daughter to accept the award. Güç said, “I would like to thank Erdi Işık for bringing this story to me. Thank you to the entire team. We will continue to create.”
