ZIAZAN

In Competition

Directed by Derya Durmaz
Short / 14’ 39” / 2014
Cast: Emy Vardanyan, Erika Hakobyan, Davit Gevorgyan, Arsen Mevsisyan, Armen Sargsyan, Robert Harutyunyan, Tatev Ghazaryan

Synopsis

Ziazan is a little Armenian girl at the age of four. Her uncle makes his living on the shuttle trade between Armenia and Turkey. Because of the closed border between the two countries, every time, he ends up having to go on a 36 hour route over Georgia. Each time he comes back from Turkey, he also brings his beloved niece little gifts. Among the gifts, Ziazan’s favorite is the chocolate cream in a tube. Aside from being Ziazan’s favorite, the chocolate cream attracts the attention of the kids from the neighborhood too. Because of her love for the chocolate cream in a tube and to impress her friends; one day Ziazan makes a plan to go on a big adventure: She will sneak in her uncle’s suitcase, go to Turkey with him, buy tons of the chocolate cream and bring some back to the kids on the block… Will she be able go over the closed border between the two countries and realize her adventure?

Selected Festivals and Awards

* SEE a Paris South East European Cinema Festival, France: Special Jury Prize
* Atif Yilmaz Short Film Competition, Turkey: First Prize
* Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase and Awards, France: Jury's Choice Award, Audicen Choice Award
* Mo & Friese Hamburg Children's Short Film Festival, Germany: Friese Award
* Tokyo Kinder Festival, Japan
* DC Short Film Festival, U.S.A.

Derya DURMAZ

Derya Durmaz completed her high school education in Ankara Tevfik Fikret High School and Wyalusing Valley High School, USA. She has a BA in Economy, an LLM in Human Rights Law and has received Acting training at the Studio Players acting studio in Istanbul.  She received ‘Best Project Award’ from the “Armenia Turkey Cinema Platform” and ‘Production Support Award’ from the Turkish Ministry of Culture with her first short film “Ziazan” which she wrote and directed. She also received ‘Script Development Support’ from the Turkish Ministry of Culture with her first feature film script “Earth Angels”, which is in the project development phase. Currently she is in the pre-production phase of her second short film “Mother Virgin No More”.

As an actress she took part in 10 feature films which participated in International festivals - such as the “Blue Wave” which competed in Generations section of the 64th Berlinale Film Festival - and many TV productions. She also works with the Persona Theater Company from Athens and took part in their two international productions which were staged in Greece, Turkey and Iran. In line with her degree in Human Rights Law, Durmaz also takes part in NGO projects related to human rights, migrant and refugee rights, youth and arts.