The revamped Istanbul Film Festival’s “Meeting on the Bridge” co-production platform concluded on Thursday, with a number of outstanding Turkish projects at various stages winning awards and attracting the attention of international industry executives from 31 countries.
The 21st April 12-14 Istanbul Industry Event, open to international co-producers with Turkey as a minority or majority co-producer, will be restarted under the new leadership of Basak Emre and Punar Evrenosor, formerly of the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.
This year’s Meeting on the Bridge had a strong representation of producers, distributors and festival programmers, primarily from European countries, but also included the United States, India and, interestingly, Iran. There was also a series of prestigious panel discussions. These included those regarding the complexities of Turkey’s co-production with Germany, Turkey’s main co-production partner. In the other episode, titled “Studio Journey with Netflix,” Perin Ekinsi Kaya, head of Turkish production at the streaming giant, delves into the examples of Netflix’s prolific Turkish original productions.
As for the project, the film development platform was evaluated by Locarno Pro Industry Manager Dalia Vumar, Arte France Film Selection Committee member Gilles Duval, and Turkish filmmaker Tarik Aktaş. One of the notable titles in the selection is Alin Inan Arslan’s debut feature film, “Huckster,” set in Anatolia’s Munzur Mountains, and tells the story of a traveling salesman who takes on a job that can lead to “profit and death” and travels with him behind the scenes. his pickup truck.
Another first feature in development that has garnered attention is “Leviathan,” by Onur Sefer, about a village headman named Sheila, a former businessman who fights to protect a cove on the Aegean coast from the development of a luxury hotel.
In the ongoing category, judged by Germany’s Picture Tree International executive Stella Weichert, Sundance Film Festival programmer Sudeep Sharma, and Turkey’s Tolga director Tolga Karaçelik, the top prize went to first-time director Efrim Kaya’s “The Other Season,” which revisits the Kurdish village where the 1983 Berlin Silver Bear-winning Turkish classic “Hakkari Season” was staged. 44 years later, he is shot and killed and discovers a “devastating truth.” Another award in this category went to “Stratum,” a drama directed by Daniel Koetter and Marko Gurba Singh that explores the boundaries between economic possibility and geopolitical exploitation.
The 45th Istanbul Film Festival concludes on Sunday.
Film Development Platform Award
Meeting on the Bridge Award
“Huckster” – directed by Alin Inan Arslan. Producer Alin Inan Arslan, co-producer Nesra Gulbs
Matt Post Post Production Award
“Huckster” – Director Alin Inan Arslan, Producer Alin Inan Arslan, Co-producer Nesra Gurbuz
melodica sound award
“People who move slowly” – Director Dilshad Aladag, Producer Ipek Erden, Co-producer Burak Cevik
Filmarca Equipment Award
“Apollo Island” – Director Barış Sarhan, Producers: Umut Eğitimci, Barış Sarhan, Tolga Topçu
Work in Progress Platform Award
Anadolu Efes Award
“Other Seasons of Hakkari” – Director Efrim Kaya, Producers Efrim Kaya, Sevim Sankakuta
Netflix Movie Support Award
“Stratum” – Directors: Daniel Koetter, Marko Gurba Singh, producer Elena Angelovski, co-producers Burak Cevik, Erol Bilibani, Veton Nurkolari
Post Garden Color Award
“The Same Pomegranate Seed” – Director Sheila Korkut, Producer Ines Asatrian
Fata Morgana Trailer Award
“Dancing Angels” – Director Ferit Kurti Producers Diloj Gürn, Sena Tongçi, Beste Yamaluğlu, Co-producer Suat Salem
Short Film Workshop Award
Cupra Short Film Award
“My Mother, Before Me” – Director Asr Ekizi, Producer Yaml Dolkun
Lumix Pro Support Award
“Will Mom, Dad be mad at me?” – Director Serin Aktash Eilboğlu, Producers Esin Ozalp Oztürk, Rufat Erkek, Emre Pekçakul, Onur Haq Eilboğlu, Co-producer Selin Aktaş Eilboğlu
Road to Clermont Participation Award
“My Mother, Before Me” – Director Asr Ekizi, Producer Yaml Dolkun
Square Eyes Counseling Award
“Orlando” – Director Halime Usta, Producer Vildan Erschen
special award
Turkel Inanoğlu Debut Film Encouragement Award
“This Is It,” directed by Barahan Güler, Aisun Karaman, Okan Youzey, co-producers, Chadash Marais, Solal Kutar
Breaking into the Industry: Mentorship Program Award for Aspiring Producers
Sila Unal
International Screen Association Award
“Leviathan” – Director Onur Sefer, Producer Sinem Kanat
Midpoint Consulting Award
“Leviathan” – Director Onur Sefer, Producer Sinem Kanat
