Fest’s 40 years of maturity blended with 16 years of pep
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hurriyet Daily News
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Haziran 11, 2009 00:00
ADANA - Athough film screenings started Monday, the 16th Adana Golden Boll Film Festival unveils its red carpet Tuesday night for big names in Turkish and world cinema. ’Treeless Mountain,’ a South Korean film directed by So Yong Kim, was screened at the official opening ceremony. Kim was present with the two of the film’s leading actors. Pianist Kerem Görsev and jazz musician Elif Çağlar Muslu also performed at the ceremony.
Adana welcomed summer with the start of a busy festival this year as the 16th Golden Boll (Altın Koza) International Film Festival’s red carpet night on Tuesday hosted many acclaimed names from Turkish and world cinema.Â
Although the film screenings started Monday, most festival-goers arrived to the southern city of Turkey on Tuesday. From cabbies to shop owners, the locals thought the city found life with the festival. "Adana is the center of agriculture in Turkey, and when it’s time for harvesting cotton, it’s time for cinemas to come alive," the governor of Adana said.
Speaking during the opening ceremony at the Metropolitan Municipality Theater Hall, İlhan Atış continued his speech by recalling the much-admired names in the history of Turkish cinema, art and literature that came out of Adana.
Â
Quotation from Atatürk
Calling upon a quote from the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, "You can be everything, but being an artist is not easy," Atış said Adana is a city proud to raise people who excel in the orchestra, theater and cinema.
"We have always welcomed our guests in this city," Atış said. "We, the people of Adana, open our hearts to guests and share what we have here."
Taking the stage after the governor, Mayor Aytaç Durak mentioned the city’s contribution to the cinema sector. Although the festival is organized for the 16th time this year, it is celebrating its 40th year, Durak said. The Adana Golden Boll Film Festival faced obstacles throughout the years as a result of earthquakes and economic and political turmoil that has halted the organization.
The city had nearly 200 summer cinemas in the past, when tourism and industry were poor in Adana; it was then a city known for its agricultural richness. "The premieres of Yeşilçam [Green Pine, often referred to as ’Turkish Hollywood’] films were held in Adana," Durak said.
The opening ceremony, hosted by actress Şebnem Dönmez, also featured world-famous pianist Kerem Görsev and jazz musician Elif Çağlar Muslu. After the duo’s performance, the members of the national jury took stage.
The jury for the National Competition is headed by director Nuri Bilge Ceylan and consists of actors Mazlum Çimen, Özgü Namal, Meltem Cumbul and Bulut Aras; writer Füruzan; director Özcan Alper; cinematographer Uğur İçbak; and movie critic Zeynep Tül Akbal Süalp. Speaking on behalf of the jury, Ceylan said the festival is important for the city to continue its culture and arts life. "People find company in a film and set aside their lonesomeness with a film they watch," he said. "That’s why we have to protect our festivals."
Korean cinema interesting
Ceylan also said he finds Korean cinema interesting and follows it closely. Then he introduced the opening film, "Treeless Mountain." The South Korean film directed by So Yong Kim tells the story of young siblings abandoned by their parents.
Sisters Jin and Bin live with their mother in a cramped apartment in Seoul until their mother leaves them to their aunt and decides to find her husband. The bright-eyed 6-year-old Jin takes care of her sister, and they end up in their grandparent’s farm.
Director So Yong Kim was present with the two leading actors Hee Yeon Kim and Song Hee Kim, who play Jin and Bin. She said she was inspired by events from her early childhood in Pusan, Korea, while making the movie. The film won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury in Berlin, Best Film in Dubai, the Netpac Award in Pusan and the Filmex Special Jury Prize in Tokyo.
Although the film screenings started Monday, most festival-goers arrived to the southern city of Turkey on Tuesday. From cabbies to shop owners, the locals thought the city found life with the festival. "Adana is the center of agriculture in Turkey, and when it’s time for harvesting cotton, it’s time for cinemas to come alive," the governor of Adana said.
Speaking during the opening ceremony at the Metropolitan Municipality Theater Hall, İlhan Atış continued his speech by recalling the much-admired names in the history of Turkish cinema, art and literature that came out of Adana.
Â
Quotation from Atatürk
Calling upon a quote from the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, "You can be everything, but being an artist is not easy," Atış said Adana is a city proud to raise people who excel in the orchestra, theater and cinema.
"We have always welcomed our guests in this city," Atış said. "We, the people of Adana, open our hearts to guests and share what we have here."
Taking the stage after the governor, Mayor Aytaç Durak mentioned the city’s contribution to the cinema sector. Although the festival is organized for the 16th time this year, it is celebrating its 40th year, Durak said. The Adana Golden Boll Film Festival faced obstacles throughout the years as a result of earthquakes and economic and political turmoil that has halted the organization.
The city had nearly 200 summer cinemas in the past, when tourism and industry were poor in Adana; it was then a city known for its agricultural richness. "The premieres of Yeşilçam [Green Pine, often referred to as ’Turkish Hollywood’] films were held in Adana," Durak said.
The opening ceremony, hosted by actress Şebnem Dönmez, also featured world-famous pianist Kerem Görsev and jazz musician Elif Çağlar Muslu. After the duo’s performance, the members of the national jury took stage.
The jury for the National Competition is headed by director Nuri Bilge Ceylan and consists of actors Mazlum Çimen, Özgü Namal, Meltem Cumbul and Bulut Aras; writer Füruzan; director Özcan Alper; cinematographer Uğur İçbak; and movie critic Zeynep Tül Akbal Süalp. Speaking on behalf of the jury, Ceylan said the festival is important for the city to continue its culture and arts life. "People find company in a film and set aside their lonesomeness with a film they watch," he said. "That’s why we have to protect our festivals."
Korean cinema interesting
Ceylan also said he finds Korean cinema interesting and follows it closely. Then he introduced the opening film, "Treeless Mountain." The South Korean film directed by So Yong Kim tells the story of young siblings abandoned by their parents.
Sisters Jin and Bin live with their mother in a cramped apartment in Seoul until their mother leaves them to their aunt and decides to find her husband. The bright-eyed 6-year-old Jin takes care of her sister, and they end up in their grandparent’s farm.
Director So Yong Kim was present with the two leading actors Hee Yeon Kim and Song Hee Kim, who play Jin and Bin. She said she was inspired by events from her early childhood in Pusan, Korea, while making the movie. The film won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury in Berlin, Best Film in Dubai, the Netpac Award in Pusan and the Filmex Special Jury Prize in Tokyo.