!f Istanbul announces 2009 program
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Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 26, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Showcasing the finest in the year’s independent films from around the world, the !f Istanbul AFM International Independent Film Festival runs from Feb. 12 to 22. For the first time ever, !f's slogan is ’Do it Yourself’ as a response to the urgency of the times.
Bringing together the year’s most talked about films from across the globe, the !f Istanbul AFM International Independent Film Festival will be held from Feb. 12 to 22 in Istanbul and from Feb. 26 to March 1 in Ankara, supported by the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency.
This year the festival will screen around 70 films in 10 thematic sections: Hit Films, Rainbow Films, Do It Yourself, Northern Lights (a Scandinavian Spotlight), New Wave American Filmmaking, The World in 1 Take, Insomnia, Fantastic Films, !f Cult and Shorts (both Turkish and international). As always, the festival will also be packed with parties and workshops designed to highlight its theme: Do it yourself.
Galas include Darren Aronofsky’s "Wrestler," Danny Boyle’s "Slumdog Millionaire," as well as multiple award-winning titles like "Wendy & Lucy," "The Sky Crawlers" and Tom Tykwer’s latest film "The International."
Films in the competition
In its second year, the !f Inspired International Film Competition will host eight films from around the world, presided over by an international jury. The competition seeks to showcase emerging filmmakers who have made bold narrative decisions, have employed ground-breaking visual style and demonstrated courageous story-telling. It carries a $15,000 prize for the Most Inspired Filmmaker.
Other films in the Do It Yourself section include, "At The End of the World," "Slingshot Hip Hop" and "Beautiful Losers;" in the Counter Sounds section, "Sonic Youth: Sleeping Night Awake" and "Berlin Calling;" in the Northern Lights section, "Country Wedding," "The Man Who Loved Yngve" and "Involuntary;" in the New Wave American Filmmaking section, "Momma’s Man," "Baghead," "Wellness" and "Nights and Weekends."
The World in 1 Take section will feature films such as, "Close-up Kurds," about Turkey’s most pressing conflict, "Sing for Darfur" and "Kinogamma." The Rainbow films section includes "Bi The Way," "Nothing Else Matters" and "The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela."
The Insomnia section features talked-about horror films such as "Martyrs," "All The Boys Love Mandy Lane" and "Tokyo Gore Police." The Fantastic Films section includes "Edison &Leo," "Sita Sings the Blues," "Franklyn," "Sauna," "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" and "Pontypool."
Ticket deals on sale at the beginning of February
Tickets can be bought from www.mybilet.com from Feb. 1 and also Beyoğlu AFM Fitaş, AFM İstinyePark, AFM Caddebostan Budak, Beyoğlu Emek Theaters counters and D&R bookstores in Capacity AVM, Cevahir AVM, Profilo AVM, Kanyon AVM, Erenköy, Ümraniye, Nişantaşı, Beyoğlu from Feb. 4.
For !f Ankara tickets, visit www.mybilet.com from Feb. 15 as well as the Ankara AFM Cepa Theatres and Panora AVM from Feb. 21.
Once again this year, at all daytime screenings throughout the festival, Gnctrkcell users can get a free ticket for each ticket they buy. For more details, please see: www.ifistanbul.com.
This year the festival center is at Lokal Tünel where the following talks and workshops will be held.
DJ and producer Paul Kalkbrenner of Berlin's Bpitch Record, brings his trademark minimal, techno and electro sounds to Istanbul for !f's opening. Before the party, he meets fans and producers to discuss the Berlin Calling process, the soundtrack and his personal inspiration. Feb. 13, 6 p.m.
Laird Adamson, head of international sales at the renowned New York-based Magnolia Films, and Zeynep Ozbatur, Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s producer, team up for an informal discussion with attendees on the best ways to get your film noticed by sales agents. Feb. 14, 2 p.m.
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, sex-change operations are legal. Over 20 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa making sex change permissible for "diagnosed transsexuals." Yet, homosexuality is still punishable by death. Tanaz Eshagian, in her documentary "Be Like Others," accompanies several young men as they contemplate and prepare for their transformation.
Meanwhile, Kaos GL writer Umut Güner has been listening in on life stories of gays, lesbians and transsexuals forced to flee their country to live freely. In this discussion, Tanaz and Umut discuss what it might be like to be there, or here, and the possibilities of living an open life in repressive societies. Feb. 16, 5 p.m.
Tell Your Own: The Other Turkey Project
"The Other Turkey" is a collaborative documentary project of ARTE and producer Patrice Barrat. The project aims to hear the voices of directors from Turkey and hear their perspectives on the chaotic realities of this geography. Feb. 18, 5 p.m.
In addition, the !f Inspired International Film Competition brings together the world’s most inspiring emerging directors. Come and meet the directors, listen to their filmmaking experiences and better understand how they made their filmmaking choices. Feb. 19, 5 p.m.
This year, !f features a number of outstanding independently-made U.S. films in its festival program including "Wendy & Lucy," "Nights & Weekends," "Momma’s Man," "Afterschool," "Wellness," "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," "Half-Life" and "Baghead." Together, they herald an exciting new wave of American independent films. Feb. 22, 4 p.m.
One of the most talked about events of the Festival is the annual Rainbow Party. It will be held on Feb. 2 at 10 p.m. at Babylon, Babylon Lounge and Babylon Upstairs and will feature themes: the Pink Room, Milk Room and L Room.
This year the festival will screen around 70 films in 10 thematic sections: Hit Films, Rainbow Films, Do It Yourself, Northern Lights (a Scandinavian Spotlight), New Wave American Filmmaking, The World in 1 Take, Insomnia, Fantastic Films, !f Cult and Shorts (both Turkish and international). As always, the festival will also be packed with parties and workshops designed to highlight its theme: Do it yourself.
Galas include Darren Aronofsky’s "Wrestler," Danny Boyle’s "Slumdog Millionaire," as well as multiple award-winning titles like "Wendy & Lucy," "The Sky Crawlers" and Tom Tykwer’s latest film "The International."
Films in the competition
In its second year, the !f Inspired International Film Competition will host eight films from around the world, presided over by an international jury. The competition seeks to showcase emerging filmmakers who have made bold narrative decisions, have employed ground-breaking visual style and demonstrated courageous story-telling. It carries a $15,000 prize for the Most Inspired Filmmaker.
Other films in the Do It Yourself section include, "At The End of the World," "Slingshot Hip Hop" and "Beautiful Losers;" in the Counter Sounds section, "Sonic Youth: Sleeping Night Awake" and "Berlin Calling;" in the Northern Lights section, "Country Wedding," "The Man Who Loved Yngve" and "Involuntary;" in the New Wave American Filmmaking section, "Momma’s Man," "Baghead," "Wellness" and "Nights and Weekends."
The World in 1 Take section will feature films such as, "Close-up Kurds," about Turkey’s most pressing conflict, "Sing for Darfur" and "Kinogamma." The Rainbow films section includes "Bi The Way," "Nothing Else Matters" and "The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela."
The Insomnia section features talked-about horror films such as "Martyrs," "All The Boys Love Mandy Lane" and "Tokyo Gore Police." The Fantastic Films section includes "Edison &Leo," "Sita Sings the Blues," "Franklyn," "Sauna," "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" and "Pontypool."
Ticket deals on sale at the beginning of February
Tickets can be bought from www.mybilet.com from Feb. 1 and also Beyoğlu AFM Fitaş, AFM İstinyePark, AFM Caddebostan Budak, Beyoğlu Emek Theaters counters and D&R bookstores in Capacity AVM, Cevahir AVM, Profilo AVM, Kanyon AVM, Erenköy, Ümraniye, Nişantaşı, Beyoğlu from Feb. 4.
For !f Ankara tickets, visit www.mybilet.com from Feb. 15 as well as the Ankara AFM Cepa Theatres and Panora AVM from Feb. 21.
Once again this year, at all daytime screenings throughout the festival, Gnctrkcell users can get a free ticket for each ticket they buy. For more details, please see: www.ifistanbul.com.
This year the festival center is at Lokal Tünel where the following talks and workshops will be held.
DJ and producer Paul Kalkbrenner of Berlin's Bpitch Record, brings his trademark minimal, techno and electro sounds to Istanbul for !f's opening. Before the party, he meets fans and producers to discuss the Berlin Calling process, the soundtrack and his personal inspiration. Feb. 13, 6 p.m.
Laird Adamson, head of international sales at the renowned New York-based Magnolia Films, and Zeynep Ozbatur, Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s producer, team up for an informal discussion with attendees on the best ways to get your film noticed by sales agents. Feb. 14, 2 p.m.
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, sex-change operations are legal. Over 20 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa making sex change permissible for "diagnosed transsexuals." Yet, homosexuality is still punishable by death. Tanaz Eshagian, in her documentary "Be Like Others," accompanies several young men as they contemplate and prepare for their transformation.
Meanwhile, Kaos GL writer Umut Güner has been listening in on life stories of gays, lesbians and transsexuals forced to flee their country to live freely. In this discussion, Tanaz and Umut discuss what it might be like to be there, or here, and the possibilities of living an open life in repressive societies. Feb. 16, 5 p.m.
Tell Your Own: The Other Turkey Project
"The Other Turkey" is a collaborative documentary project of ARTE and producer Patrice Barrat. The project aims to hear the voices of directors from Turkey and hear their perspectives on the chaotic realities of this geography. Feb. 18, 5 p.m.
In addition, the !f Inspired International Film Competition brings together the world’s most inspiring emerging directors. Come and meet the directors, listen to their filmmaking experiences and better understand how they made their filmmaking choices. Feb. 19, 5 p.m.
This year, !f features a number of outstanding independently-made U.S. films in its festival program including "Wendy & Lucy," "Nights & Weekends," "Momma’s Man," "Afterschool," "Wellness," "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," "Half-Life" and "Baghead." Together, they herald an exciting new wave of American independent films. Feb. 22, 4 p.m.
One of the most talked about events of the Festival is the annual Rainbow Party. It will be held on Feb. 2 at 10 p.m. at Babylon, Babylon Lounge and Babylon Upstairs and will feature themes: the Pink Room, Milk Room and L Room.