"Mayis Sikintisi" - Clouds of May by Nuri Bilge Ceylan:

This May in the town seems to be hotter, gloomier than the previous years. Still, everyone seems to be happy despite their small worries and lives closed for any surprises. However, this happiness is a little disturbed by the arrival of Muzaffer who has made up his mind to shoot a film in this town where he had passed his childhood.

"Clouds of May" tells the story of Muzaffer, who returns to his native town to make a movie. His father, Emin, is bent on saving the small forest he cultivates on his property from confiscation by the authorities. His nephew, nine year-old Ali, who wants a musical watch. He has to carry an egg in his pocket for 40 days without cracking it, according to terms of an agreement made with his aunt, who has promised in return to convince Ali’s father to purchase this much wanted item for his son. And Muzaffer’s cousin, Saffet, who is a young town dweller whose efforts are all doomed to failure by bad luck (or is it by his own rebelliousness) and who dreams of going to Istanbul.

Winner of:            

Berlin Film Festival; Official Selection in Competition

Bruxelles Mediterranean Film Festival; Best Film

European Academy Awards 2000; European Critics’ Award

Alexandria Film Festival; Special Jury Prize, Best Actor for M. Emin Ceylan, Best Editing

Forum de Cinema (Strasbourg); Don Quijote Prize

Istanbul Film Festival;

          * Golden Tulip in the international competition

          * Fibresci Prize in the international competition

          * Best Turkish Film in the national competition

          * Audience Award in the national competition

Antalya Film Festival; Best Director, Best Lab, Second Best Film

          Special Jury Prize for all players

Ankara Film Festival; Best Film

SIYAD Turkish Critics Awards; Best Film, Best Director