Films independent from global crisis
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Johannes Hillje
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 13, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - The 8th version of the AFM International Independent Film Festival, or !f Istanbul, kicks off today with the slogan ’Do It Yourself,’ aiming to call on all young artists.
The current crisis seems to have hit everything, creating a period in which public funds are short and the culture and arts scene is especially suffering. The organizers of the "8th AFM International Independent Film Festival," however, are making the best of it under this year’s slogan "Do It Yourself."
Serra Ciliv, co-director of the festival, said the intention of the slogan was "to call on all young artists, because people tell you in dark times that you cannot do it."
The eighth edition of the vibrant, shortened "!f Festival" started Wednesday night with the opening gala in Beyoğlu’s Emek Movie Theater in Istanbul. Throught Feb. 22 the festival will screen around 70 international movies in four locations across Istanbul, including the Emek Movie Theater for the first time in the festival’s history. Then it will go to Ankara, where it will screen films from Feb. 26 to March 1.
Opening film ’Man on Wire’
Istanbul’s opening gala was an example of how to put the slogan of the festival into action. After an entertaining performance by the organizers, the movie "Man on Wire" was screened. It tells the story of a young Frenchman who managed to cross distances on wires suspended at incredible heights and of course, he did it on his own.
What makes these movies unique, Ciliv said is that "Directors of independent movies are not independent to gain commercial success. They want to express themselves, even if just 10 people see their art." To make sure films have a broad audience at the festival, Ciliv and co-director Pelin Turgut began preparing eight months in advance to choose the finest of the year’s international independent movies.
10 thematic sections
The program of the festival is divided into 10 thematic sections. These sections range from "Hit films," which includes a selection of the latest titles and award-winning movies, to the gay and lesbian category "Rainbow Films," to a variety of animated films. In the "Do-it-Yourself" section the American film "Beautiful Losers" will be shown among others. It deals with New York’s young art scene of the early 1990s and was the biggest inspiration for this year’s festival, Ciliv said.
The organizing team of the festival also recognized a growing number of worthy Scandinavian movies and created a "Northern Lights" category, in which five North-European movies will be screened.
While most sections are packed with movies from all over the world, the selection of short films focuses on the Turkish independent movie scene. The festival will screen 37 works by young domestic directors dealing with different issues in Turkish life and society. Ciliv said: "Especially in countries like Turkey where self-expression is quite problematic, independent movies are important." In this sense, moviemaking can also become political activism.
International film competition
For the second time this year, the event will also include an independent film competition. Rating eight movies from around the world, the "!f Inspired International Film Competition" has a $15,000 prize for the winning director. By focusing on criteria such as innovation and courageous storytelling, a panel of members of the Turkish and international film industry will decide who is the "Most Inspired Filmmaker." Turkish actress Serra Yılmaz and the first Puerto Rican Oscar Nominee, Jose Rivera, are among the five judges.
The 2008 competition could also become a driving factor for the film event. As the !f festival started eight years ago with screenings only at one venue, the event grew constantly in the past years. By trying to detect the cinema’s future with the international competition, Ciliv said Istanbul could become "a capital of young cinema."
For the audience, the festival offers the screening of the films, different parties and workshops. Round tables and debates will be held, where several directors will speak about their projects. The performance of the German DJ Paul Kalkbrenner, who’s well known for his minimal techno and electro sounds, will mark the party highlight of the event Friday night at Istanbul’s "Ghetto."
For the complete screening schedule of the "8th AFM International Independent Film Festival" visit www.ifistanbul.com
Serra Ciliv, co-director of the festival, said the intention of the slogan was "to call on all young artists, because people tell you in dark times that you cannot do it."
The eighth edition of the vibrant, shortened "!f Festival" started Wednesday night with the opening gala in Beyoğlu’s Emek Movie Theater in Istanbul. Throught Feb. 22 the festival will screen around 70 international movies in four locations across Istanbul, including the Emek Movie Theater for the first time in the festival’s history. Then it will go to Ankara, where it will screen films from Feb. 26 to March 1.
Opening film ’Man on Wire’
Istanbul’s opening gala was an example of how to put the slogan of the festival into action. After an entertaining performance by the organizers, the movie "Man on Wire" was screened. It tells the story of a young Frenchman who managed to cross distances on wires suspended at incredible heights and of course, he did it on his own.
What makes these movies unique, Ciliv said is that "Directors of independent movies are not independent to gain commercial success. They want to express themselves, even if just 10 people see their art." To make sure films have a broad audience at the festival, Ciliv and co-director Pelin Turgut began preparing eight months in advance to choose the finest of the year’s international independent movies.
10 thematic sections
The program of the festival is divided into 10 thematic sections. These sections range from "Hit films," which includes a selection of the latest titles and award-winning movies, to the gay and lesbian category "Rainbow Films," to a variety of animated films. In the "Do-it-Yourself" section the American film "Beautiful Losers" will be shown among others. It deals with New York’s young art scene of the early 1990s and was the biggest inspiration for this year’s festival, Ciliv said.
The organizing team of the festival also recognized a growing number of worthy Scandinavian movies and created a "Northern Lights" category, in which five North-European movies will be screened.
While most sections are packed with movies from all over the world, the selection of short films focuses on the Turkish independent movie scene. The festival will screen 37 works by young domestic directors dealing with different issues in Turkish life and society. Ciliv said: "Especially in countries like Turkey where self-expression is quite problematic, independent movies are important." In this sense, moviemaking can also become political activism.
International film competition
For the second time this year, the event will also include an independent film competition. Rating eight movies from around the world, the "!f Inspired International Film Competition" has a $15,000 prize for the winning director. By focusing on criteria such as innovation and courageous storytelling, a panel of members of the Turkish and international film industry will decide who is the "Most Inspired Filmmaker." Turkish actress Serra Yılmaz and the first Puerto Rican Oscar Nominee, Jose Rivera, are among the five judges.
The 2008 competition could also become a driving factor for the film event. As the !f festival started eight years ago with screenings only at one venue, the event grew constantly in the past years. By trying to detect the cinema’s future with the international competition, Ciliv said Istanbul could become "a capital of young cinema."
For the audience, the festival offers the screening of the films, different parties and workshops. Round tables and debates will be held, where several directors will speak about their projects. The performance of the German DJ Paul Kalkbrenner, who’s well known for his minimal techno and electro sounds, will mark the party highlight of the event Friday night at Istanbul’s "Ghetto."
For the complete screening schedule of the "8th AFM International Independent Film Festival" visit www.ifistanbul.com