Kevin Spacey to attend Turkey's Golden Orange

Spacey would deliver a three hours lecture on being an actor to 200 cinema students, Engin Yigitgil, chairman of the Turkish Foundation of Cinema and Audiovisual Culture (TURSAK), told Anatolian Agency on Friday, announcing the surprise on Spacey.

All the best-known faces of Turkish cinema and many from the international scene will be in Antalya on Friday for the Golden Orange Film Festival, the “Turkish Oscars.”�

The festival, the biggest event Turkey for the cinema industry, is being organized for the 45th time. It aims to support the Turkish cinema sector, by fostering Turkish film producers and encouraging them to produce high-quality films.

Menderes Turel, the mayor of Antalya, said during a speech at a press conference held Tuesday that they were beginning to realize their goals for the festival.

“The festival has become a base for the international film market in recent years. Our aim is of course to take further steps for the festival, which hosts three big events: the National Film Festival, the International Film Festival and the International Eurasia Film Festival," he was quoted by the Turkish Daily News (TDN) as saying.

“Golden Orange cannot be like a Cannes film festival because our budget cannot compete. We never had a big budget like they have in Cannes,” said Turel.

“Artists come to Antalya because their films will be screened during the festival. Charlize Theron, who was expected to attend to the festival, will not be there this year because she is not starring in any of the films to be screened.”

ANTALYA TO HOST CELEBRITIES�
Excitement looms as the International Eurasia Film Festival, which was founded in 2004 and organized in 2006 for the first time, is about to reveal the complete line-up for its fourth edition. For another nine days, the festival will bring continents together and will launch the Turkey premieres of more than 60 titles from around the world. �

The fourth International Eurasia Film Festival will raise its curtains with one of the most-awaited films of 2008: A Turkish filmmaker who now resides in Italy, Ferzan Ozpetek, will show his well-received “Un Fiorno Perfetto,” which premiered at the 65th Venice Film Festival. It promises be the first flash of magic on the silver screen.

After breaking a record and making history as the youngest actor to grab the Academy Award for best actor and the only American thespian to receive a César Award – for his performance in Roman Polanski's celebrated film “The Pianist” – Adrien Brody will be among the stellar names at the Eurasia Film Festival. Brody will walk the red carpet at the premiere of “The Brothers Bloom,” in which he stars opposite Rachel Weisz and Mark Ruffalo.

Another dazzling name to stroll the red carpet will be splendid talent Mickey Rourke, who made an impressive comeback with his breathtaking and dedicated performance in genius helmsman Darren Aronofsky's latest feature, “The Wrestler.” Rourke will be attending the Turkey premiere of “The Wrestler” along with the film's co-star, Oscar winning actress Marisa Tomei. Prolific actor and social activist Danny Glover, who made his latest appearance in Fernando Meirelles' “Blindness;” the silver screen's evergreen enchantress Jacqueline Bisset; the dean of villain characters Michael Ironside; Scandinavia's premier film director, Oscar and Golden Globe winner Bille August; Hollywood veteran Maximilian Schell; regal actor and master of expression Matthew Modine; and esteemed director Susanne Bier; and the director of “Stone of Destiny,” Charles Martin Smith, are the guests of the red carpet.�

Multitalented artist and actor Michael York, who is celebrating the 44th year of his career, will receive the honorary award of the festival, along with brilliant director Paul Verhoeven.

HISTORY OF GOLDEN ORANGE
The festival started as a national event in 1963 with the efforts of Dr. Avni Tolunay and later became an annual event. Tolunay, who was known for his interest in art, became a mayor after working as a doctor in the municipality.

The chair of the festival passed to Selahattin Tonguc in 1973, when he became the new mayor. It was organized as an international festival in 1978.

The next year, the 16th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival was rocked by scandal. The festival banned the screening of some of the competing films and wanted to censor others. All the producers left the festival and there were many protests. The only competition held was for short films. The next year, the 17th festival could not take place at all because of the 1980 military coup.

After the Antalya Culture and Art Foundation, or AKSAV, handed over the running of the festival to the Turkey Cinema and Audiovisual Foundation, or TURSAK, the festival began to gain an international reputation. The festival concept has been rejuvenated through the work of TURSAK. Not only has the concept changed throughout the years but also the vision, aim and philosophy.

THE MOST AWARDED ARTISTS
The most-awarded director at the Golden Orange festival was veteran Atif Yilmaz. He received the Golden Orange award six times. Directors Halit Refig and Nuri Bilge Ceylan follow.

The best actress award went to Hulya Kocyigit five times, Turkan Soray four times, and to Fatma Girik, Hale Soygazi, Nur Surer and Mujde Ar two times. Tarik Akan is the most-awarded actor throughout the 44 years of the festival.

This year there were 87 documentary films, 236 short films and 34 films that applied to compete at the festival. The jury, formed of Atilla Dorsay, Mithat Alam, Serap Aksoy, Erkan Aktug, Tevfik  Baser, Necip Sarici, Fehmi Yasar, Ziya Oztan and Muammer Brav, chose 16 films to compete from 34 applicants. There will be 27 documentaries and 25 short films competing.