DOCUMENTARY AND SHORT FILM COMPETITION
December 1 - 8, 2011
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2011 - 16th Boston Turkish Festival
Documentary & Short Film Competition
Winners
Best Documentary:
* In Out by Zeynep Merve Uygun
* Recycling Life: I Found Dostoevski in the Garbage (Copte Dostoyevski Buldum) by Enis Riza
Best Short Film:
* Death (Olum) by Uygar Sirin and Burcu Aykar Sirin
*Journey of No Return - Last Stop Frankfurt Airport (Donusu Olmayan Yolculuk - Son Durak Frankurt Havaalani) by Guclu Yaman
Audience Awards
Best Documentary:
* Gobeklitepe: The World's First Temple (Gobeklitepe: Dunyanin Ilk Tapinagi) by Ahmet Turgut Yazman
Best Short Film:
*Journey of No Return - Last Stop Frankfurt Airport (Donusu Olmayan Yolculuk - Son Durak Frankurt Havaalani) by Guclu Yaman
Special Mentions
Documentaries:
* Bodies without Soul (Bedensiz Ruhlar) by Sabite Kaya
* Figures in the Water (Sudaki Suretler) by Erkal Tulek
*
The Great Lovers (Buyukasik'lar) by Nagihan Cakar
* On the Road (Yollarda/Unterwegs) by Sabine Kueper-Buesch and Thomas Buesch
* The Other Town (Oteki Kasaba) by Nefin Dinc
Short Films:
* Adam's Well (Adem'in Kuyusu) by Veysel Cihan Hizar
* Ali Ata Bak by Orhan Ince
* Hamam by Tunc Sahin
* Milk (Sut) by Aysegul Sahinbozkir
* Love is Blind (Direk Ask) by Ertug Tufekcioglu
* Wedlock (Izdivac) by Azime Kanal
Enjoy this rare opportunity to view films of the competition, the first of its kind organized in North America. The competition has already transformed to a great tradition where Bostonians are able to explore works of the emerging filmmakers first hand. Each year more than hundred films are submitted from numerous countries. After a careful elimination process, a total of 32 films will be screened in this year's program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston University, and Boston Public Library. All films are in English or with English subtitles.
Members of this year's Competition Jury include:
Haden Guest, Director, Harvard Film Archive
Peter Keough, Film Editor - Boston Phoenix
Carter Long, Katharine Stone White Curator of Film, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
In addition to the 'Best Documentary" and "Best Short Film" Awards to be selected by the jury, we will also announce the "Audience Awards". Ballots will be distributed at the beginning of each film screening and will be collected in the end. Therefore, we invite you all 'movie enthusiasts' to come and participate in this fun process!
Co-presented with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
SEE BELOW FOR 2011 FINALISTS AND SCREENING SCHEDULE
Competition results to be announced soon
Documentary & Short Film Competition Finalists Screening Schedule
Thursday, December 1, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston
GOBEKLITEPE: THE WORLD'S FIRST TEMPLE
In Competition
Directed by Ahmet Turgut Yazman
Doc. / 80 min. / 2010 / Turkey / In English
12,000 years ago, long before the age of settlement, far earlier than agriculture and in advance of any known belief system, there already was a sacred place on Earth. Winner of many awards, including the Most Educational Documentary at Atlanta Docufest and official selection at Iran Cinema Verite, the film challenges common beliefs on the history of civilization and takes the audience back to 12 thousand years ago, to Gobeklitepe, an ancient site recently found in SanliUrfa, Turkey.
Watch Trailer:
Friday, December 2, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston
TURKISH PASSPORT
(Türk Pasaportu)
In Competition
Directed by Burak Cem Arliel
Doc. / 91 min. / 2011 / Turkey
The Turkish Passport tells the story of diplomats in several European countries, who saved the lives of many Jews during the Second World War. Whether they pulled them out of camps or took them off trains that were taking them to concentration camps, the diplomats, in the end, ensured that they could go to Turkey and thus be saved. Based on the testimonies of witnesses who traveled to Istanbul to find safety, the Turkish Passport also uses written historical documents and archive footage, as well as interviews conducted with surviving Jews who had boarded the trains traveling from France to Turkey, and with the diplomats and their families who saved their lives.
Watch Trailer:
Saturday, December 3, 2011
1:00 p.m.
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston
RECYCLING LIFE: I FOUND DOSTOYEVSKI IN THE GARBAGE
(Cöpte Dostoyevski Buldum)
In Competition
Directed by Enis Riza
Doc. / 100 min. / 2010 / Turkey
Oktay is an amalgamation of a beggar, a junk collector, a rubbish collector even a glue sniffer; he has begged on the streets, he has collected rubbish; he has sold paper, cuddled up to stray dogs. Despite everything experienced, this dark eyed boy never gave up on life. His life changed in Istanbul through chance meetings with students and discarded books he found in the bins whilst collecting paper. He read them and began to collect them for himself. Oktay’s tale challenges prejudices, opinions and those little or even ignored facts about these street workers- these street kids. This young man’s’ tale, in which he went from nobody to a somebody, shines a beacon of hope and understanding for all ready to listen.
Watch Trailer:
Saturday, December 3, 2011
3:15 p.m.
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston
ON THE ROAD
(Yollarda / Unterweg)
In Competition
Directed by Sabine Küper-Büsch and Thomas Büsch
Doc. / 60 min. / 2011 / Turkey
In German, Turkish, English, Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian
with English Subtitles
Discussion following the screening with Claudia Hahn-Raabe, Director, Goethe Institut-Istanbul; Project Director, European Literature Goes to Turkey/ Turkish Literature Goes to Europe
Co-presented with the Goethe Institut-Boston
A documentary about Turkey and Europe on the large-scale, high-profile arts tour throughout Turkey and Europe in 2009/2010 under the title "European Literature Goes to Turkey/ Turkish Literature Goes to Europe", organized by the Goethe-Institut Istanbul. The tour has brought noted authors and countless musicians, photographers, filmmakers and artists from eight European countries (Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria) to 24 cities throughout Turkey. The tour finally showcased readings by Turkish authors and concerts by various Turkish musicians in Sofia, Bucharest, Vienna, Venice, Zurich, and the two other Capitals of Culture 2010, Pécs and Essen. Accompanying the tour was a bookmobile containing the showcased literature. The bookmobile itself became a meeting point and a platform for exchange.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
3:00 p.m.
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Click here to buy tickets online
(2 films: "Where are you going bro? The Exchange" and "The Other Town")
WHERE ARE YOU GOING BRO? THE EXCHANGE
(Kardes Nereye? Mübadele)
In Competition
Directed by Ömer Asan
Doc. / 77 min. / 2011 / Turkey
The documentary, which was shot in Ordu and Thessaloniki, Drama, Katerini, Kavala is about the banish before the Lausanne Treaty, and the exchange occurred after. The movie begins with the opinions of experts and historians. Both sides lost so many things during this compulsory migration and getting ready for a new land wasn’t easy for these people, after experiencing such great traumas caused by losing their homelands. The documentary illuminates this subject by benefiting from photographs, narrations, witnesses and archived films. The results of the great drama brought by the exchange affected even the third generations in a traumatic way. The documentary depictsthe longing for the lost homelands still exists among the children of the exchanged.
In Competition
Directed by Nefin Dinc
Doc. / 45 min. / 2011 / Turkey
Why do neighbors fight? Why do the world’s ethnic or religious groups experience mutual hatred and suspicion? This documentary explores the negative feelings of a Greek town, Dimitsana, and a Turkish town, Birgi, towards the “Other.” Bitter sentiments and prejudices are widespread in both societies. Locals of all ages are caught in a web of stereotypes that impedes bilateral relationships between Turkey and Greece. Similar situations exist in many other societies around the world.
Watch Trailer:
Sunday, December 4, 2011
6:30 p.m.
635 Commonwealth Avenue, SAR101
Boston University
THE ZONE
In Competition
Directed by Mustafa Unlu
Doc. / 55 min. / 2011 / Turkey
"The Zone" tells the stories of five Palestinian characters through their daily life. A general manager who is separated from his children; a factory worker who is not able to go to his parent's funeral, a basketball team's captain who always has to play as guest; a businessman whose customers are mostly bankrupt, a woman worker who is unaware that she will be late for home because of check-points.
BODIES WITHOUT SOUL
(Bedensiz Ruhlar)
In Competition
Directed by Sabite Kaya
Doc. / 60 min. / 2011 / Turkey
The documentary tells the holding-onto-life stories of young girls and women, who are unwillingly in the prostitution business, obscured by secrets under the guise of privacy, sold to prostitution houses or other prostitution sectors, and capitalized against their will. It shows how they struggle to free themselves from this business, and how they are excluded from their families and left alone with drastic financial problems. It also observes how the lives of these women which started with high hopes and expectations like everyone else change due to family-related or social factors and will investigate the reasons why they chose to live on streets.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Howard Thurman Multicultural Center, Boston University
775 Commonwealth Avenue, Lower Level
THE GREAT LOVERS
(Buyukasik'lar)
In Competition
Directed by Nagihan Cakar
Doc. / 19 min. / 2011 / Turkey
The story of Hasan Buyukasik who professes sericulturing which is one of the Anatolian cultural heritages, and continuing centuries-long traditions in silk production.
FIGURES IN THE WATER
(Sudaki Suretler)
In Competition
Directed by Erkal Tulek
Doc. / 74 min. / 2011 / Turkey
From Artvin, to Muğla, from Kastamonu to Dersim, the invasion of the water heads/fronts has gone so far all around the country... Both the raid and the resistance are quite tough, and it is obvious that they are going to get tougher. HPP (HES – Hydroelectric Power Plant) is a vague voice; the counter party, on the controversy and from pure spite, is pertinacious and openly existing as clear as light…
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
5:00 p.m.
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street, Boston
In Competition
Directed by Zeynep Merve Uygun
Doc. / 15 min. / 2011 / Turkey
“IN OUT” is about a Turkish filmmaker participated in a documentary project organized in Europe and her story of probation and deportation at the landborders of Serbia and Bulgaria. The documentary consisting of three main parts visualizes the concept of border and aims to raise questions about the various kinds of citizenship status and the procedures conducted during the border transitions between countries.
LAST NOMADS IN ANATOLIA SARI KECILILER
(Anadolu'nun Son Gocerleri Sari Kecililer)
In Competition
Directed by Yuksel Aksu
Doc. / 75 min. / 2010 / Turkey
The history of nomadic culture has begun with the existence of human race. Today, it has been considered as one of the most important alternative life styles within the intellectual movements of ecological studies. In Anatolia, the nomadic tribes have existed since the 9th and 10th centuries. This documentary tells the story of the last nomadic tribe in Anatolia within their natural habitat.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street, Boston
THE ABANDONED
(Metruk)
In Competition
Directed by Orkide Unsur
Doc. / 12' 7" / 2010 / Turkey
A short experimental documentary. “Condemned houses are like abandoned lovers.”
Watch Trailer:
HAGIA SOPHIA
(Ayasofya)
In Competition
Directed by Ibrahim Aynekin
Doc. / 25' 47" / 2010 / Turkey
Hagia Sophia, a magnificent historical monument which has been intact, being witness to the history, for the last 1500 years. This documentary tells the three periods in its construction, the period when it was a church, when it was a mosque, and finally when it has become a museum. It tells the story of Hagia Sophia and how it stood with its dignity through the times of emperors, collapses, secrets, and betrayals.
WAVES ON YOUR FACE - EMPTY ISLAND
(Yuzundeki Dalgalar - Bos Ada)
In Competition
Directed by Ozlem Yilmaz
Doc. / 56' 12" / 2011 / Turkey
This documentary tells the history of the Greek-origin (Rum) people, who have been the most important aspect of Bozcaada island, alongside the Turkish people who later settled in the island. It tells how lives of these community members, currently only 12 elderly people living on the island, have changed over the years. It attempts to answer questions such as how did the 6-7 September events reached the island; how did the Cyprus issue, which began in 1964, caused disintegration in this small island; how the deep political and social forces led people of the island to mass immigrate over the years; pains and yearnings of the disintegrated large families; and a long answer to the question, "how can we live together?" Characters in this documentary are the people who have become "the other" while living next to us, as well as the last witnesses of a generation who experienced being unaccepted and not belonging anywhere.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
5:00 p.m.
8 St. Mary's Street, PHO206
Boston University
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
(Gercek Bir Hikayeden Uyarlanmistir)
In Competition
Directed by Kerem Keskin
Short / 19 min. / 2011 / Turkey
Salih is a young laborer who works in a factory. His only hobby is watching movies at home. One day, he watches a movie which is “based on a true story”. The bag full of money is forgotten in the middle of the valley, at the end of the movie. Salih believes that the money is still out there and tries to convince his friends to “find the bag”. But his friend, Cemil has different plans about “the bag”. Together they go on the road…
In Competition
Directed by Aysegul Sahinbozkir
Short / 7' 5" / 2011 / Turkey
A short film about human beings' abilites to give meaning to their lives by interpreting unexplainable entities and occurrences. Faced with the deep question of the reason for being alive, supernatural explanations offer a relief from feelings of insignificance and uncertainty, and can provide a purpose in life. The story of a lonely, depressed man, living in a small distant shack, excluded from society, whose life changes drastically following the mysterious arrivals of empty milk bottles at his door from an unknown source. This transforms his state of depression into one of wonder and eventually to serenity.
In Competition
Directed by Azime Kanal
Short / 12 min. / 2011 / Turkey
Feride is a 55-year-old widow, who lives with her daughter. She is about to get married with her fiancee Adnan who is disapproved but nevertheless accepted by her daughter. The film starts with Adnan’s disappearance on the wedding day. ‘Wedlock’ is a film about women’s weaknesses, their search for support to stand, and fear of loneliness.
In Competition
Directed by Orhan Ince
Short / 12 min. / 2011 / Turkey
Ali's conversation with his uncle, whom he hasn't seen for a long time, reveals tragic situations caused by the education system.
PEREPARA
(The Money)
In Competition
Directed by Bedirhan Sakci
Short / 8' 6" / 2011 / Turkey
A story about a beggar and a child, who tries to understand the importance of money in life.
In Competition
Directed by Veysel Cihan Hizar
Short / 18' 30" / 2011 / Turkey
A short story about Adem, who is an outsider, making up new characters out of his collections from garbage. He can't even succeed to communicate with these characters that he creates himself.
THAT MOMENT
(O An)
In Competition
Directed by Suat Oktay Senocak
Short / 9' 19" / 2011 / Turkey
A man, who got tired of problems with his wife, cannot enjoy the life. While in a hotel room, he makes the decision of his life. Just a couple hours ago, while he was in Taksim Square, a mysterious guy, who had another goal in mind, had asked for a light. The goal of that mysterious guy would affect the decision of the man in the room.
In Competition
Directed by Ertug Tufekcioglu
Short / 11 min. / 2011 / Turkey
A desperately unhappy woman finds love in the most unexpected place.
Watch Trailer:
In Competition
Directed by Tunc Sahin
Short / 12 min. / 2009 / Turkey
A young man's interesting encounter at his first visit in a Turkish bath.
SCARECROW
(Korkuluk)
In Competition
Directed by Adem Demirci
Short / 10' 42" / 2011 / Turkey
A girl who is in her early 20's imputes the fear, which her husband has made on her, to a scarecrow after her husband's death. Although she is alone, she still tries to cope with the fear as if he is still at the center of her life as a scarecrow.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
7:30 p.m.
8 St. Mary's Street, PHO206
Boston University
JOURNEY OF NO RETURN - LAST STOP FRANKFURT AIRPORT
(Donusu Olmayan Yolculuk - Son Durak Frankfurt Havaalani)
In Competition
Directed by Guclu Yaman
Short / 25 min. / 2010 / Germany
Based on the true story of a Sudanese refugee, Aamir Ageeb. He wanted to report the theft of his jacket to the police, but at the police station everything goes completely in a different direction from what he had imagined. His journey has already begun.
BRUSH STROKE
(Firca Darbesi)
In Competition
Directed by Nihan Belgin
Short / 29 min. / 2010 / Turkey
February 1980… The times that left and right-wing clashes have been heightened to the peak... A group of young people protested the murder of their friends, Sinan. Soldiers fired warning shot in order to circumvent the marching and disband the young people. Smell of gunpowder gets mixed in dark, misty air of Ankara. Having caught in the middle of the panic of scurrying and chasing, Erdal fired his shotgun, as well...
In Competition
Directed by Uygar Sirin, Burcu Aykar Sirin
Short / 12 min. / 2009 / Turkey
6 year old Emre is sent to his maternal grandparents' summer house in the spring. His parents have to take care of his paternal grandmother who is seriously ill. For Emre, being at the summer house is like being in heaven, getting his grandparents' compasionate attention and playing with his friend Cicek. However, the news of his grandmother's death will crack his picture perfect world and he will do all he can to avoid the reality.
VANTILA-TOGRAF - A GIFT TO AHMET ULUCAY
(Vantila-tograf - Ahmet Ulucay'a Armagan)
In Competition
Directed by Yasin Ilgaz Irmak
Short / 2' 34" / 2010 / Turkey
A gift to Ahmet Ulucay who has become a role model for young filmmakers with his passion and determination to cinema...
A SUNNY DAY
(Gunesli Bir Gun)
In Competition
Directed by Selcen Ergun
Short / 7 min. / 2011 / Turkey
On a sunny day’s morning, together with his two friends and his old red bike, a little journey awaits Emin.
WHEN THE WHEAT IS SCATTERING
(Dema Ku Genim Dirijin / Bugdaylar Dokulurken)
Non-Competition
Directed by Orhan Ince
Short / 13' 20" / 2010 / Turkey
A child's hope after losing something precious.
BEREKET APARTMENT
(Bereket Apartmani)
In Competition
Directed by Elif Suyabatmaz
Doc. / 30 min. / 2011 / Turkey
Bereket Apartment is a 100 year old building in the Beyoğlu Galata distirct of Istanbul. Esin and Nevin, sisters who have lived in Bereket Apartment for 62 years, are selling the building. Their story focuses on
the spatial transformation of the neighborhood that is reflected in their narration of their family history and several key personal life encounters with the myriad of lodgers who have passed trough their building over the years.Today, five years later, the building has been renovated. Bereket Apartment now has new owners and a new name: IPera 12.
SCREENING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, December 1, 2011, 6:00 p.m
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Friday, December 2, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Saturday, December 3, 2011, 1:00 p.m. & 3:15 p.m.
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Sunday, December 4, 2011, 3:00 p.m.
Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Sunday, December 4, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
635 Commonwealth Avenue, SAR101, Boston University
Tuesday, December 6, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
Howard Thurman Multicultural Center, Boston University
775 Commonwealth Avenue, Lower Level
Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Boston Public Library
700 Boylson Street, Boston
Thursday, December 8, 2011, 5:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
8 St. Mary's Street, PHO206, Boston University
PREVIOUS COMPETITIONS
Competition Award Winners (2010-2006)
Boston Turkish Film Festival 
Winners of the Competition are re-screened at the Boston Turkish Film Festival which takes place in the spring (April 2012) at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. For more information about the Boston Turkish Film Festival please visit: www.BostonTurkishFilmFestival.org
