Director Cagan Irmak Receives 2016 Boston Turkish Film Festival Excellence in Turkish Cinema Award

Boston Turkish Film Festival (BTFF), which features critically acclaimed films focusing on Turkish Cinema and Turkish filmmakers, presents 21 high caliber films by leading and emerging Turkish filmmakers as its 15th edition runs from March 17 th to April 3 rd at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

For the last ten years, Boston Turkish Film Festival has been presenting the Excellence in Turkish Cinema Award to distinguished directors for their contributions to Turkish Cinema, and this year's award recipient is director aan Irmak. Irmak has been acknowledged as an accomplished storyteller and successor of "Yeilam" traditions, building a bridge between old and contemporary Turkish cinema with his own style and films ranging from melodramas to films which embrace fantastic elements.

Irmak's award was presented at a ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston following the screening of his latest film, A Unique Life (Nadide Hayat).

My Grandfather's People (Dedemin nsanlar), the film which Irmak describes as the film closest to his heart, which is based on the story of his own family, was also screened in a prior session.

aan Irmak was first recognized by the audience with his successful TV projects (Asmal Konak, 2002 and emberimde Gl Oya, 2004). His 2004 film, All About Mustafa (Mustafa Hakknda Herey) was highly acclaimed by film critics.

In 2005 "My Father and Son" (Babam ve Olum), which he wrote and directed, was awarded the Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Picture prizes by SIYAD (Turkish Film Critics' Association) and was also a big success in movie theaters.

After "The Messenger" (Ulak) in 2007, a critically acclaimed timeless and placeless tale with fantastic elements, the director made a great ticket box success in Turkey in 2008 with "Alone" (Issz Adam). Irmak's 2009 film "In Darkness" (Karanlktakiler) was followed in 2011 by "My Grandfather's People" (Dedemin nsanlar), which was another box office success. In 2014, Irmak returned with "Are We OK?" (Tamam myz?). His 2015 film, "Whisper if I Forget" (Unutursam Fslda), was a tribute to Turkish pop music of 1970s and 80s, bringing together two legendary actresses/musicians, Hmeyra and Il Ycesoy.

Boston Turkish Film Festival Excellence in Turkish Cinema Award, in previous years, were presented to directors Zeki Demirkubuz, Reha Erdem, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Yeim Ustaolu, Dervi Zaim, Tayfun Pirselimolu, Erden Kral, Reis elik, and Onur nl.

15 th Boston Turkish Film Festival presents 21 films from March 17 th through April 3 rd

The festival kicked off on March 17 th withIvy (Sarmak) by Tolga Karaelik, which made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

The festival offers a vast array of films in terms of their themes, nine making their North American and US premieres, four their East Coast premieres. Q&A sessions with directors follow film screenings. Six out of 16 films in the program received awards from SIYAD the Turkish Film Critics Association and 25% of the features in the program are by women filmmakers, according to Erkut Gml, founder and director of the festival.

There are 16 feature films in the festival program: "Ivy"(Sarmak) by Tolga Karaelik, "My Grandfather's People" (Dedemin nsanlar) and "A Unique Life" (Nadide Hayat) by aan Irmak, "Rimos and Zimos: Peace in Town" (Rimolar ve Zimolar: Kasabada Bar) by Nermin Er and smet Kurtulu, "Lemonade" (Limonata) by Ali Atay, "Mustang" by Deniz Gamze Ergven, "Remake, Remix, Rip-Off" (Motr) by Cem Kaya, "Yearning" (Hasret) by Ben Hopkins, "Brother" (Kardeim Benim) by Mert Baykal, "Until I Lose My Breath" (Nefesim Kesilene Kadar) by Emine Emel Balc, "Nausea" (Bulant) by Zeki Demirkubuz, "Cold of Kalandar" (Kalandar Souu) by Mustafa Kara, "Motherland" (Ana Yurdu) by Senem Tzen, "Snow Pirates" (Kar Korsanlar) by Faruk Hachafzolu, "stanbul Unveiled" by erif Yenen and Levent Ayal, and "Frenzy" (Abluka) by Emin Alper.

Award-Winning Documentary & Short Films and their Directors are at the BTFF

Award-winning films of the Boston Turkish Festival's Documentary and Short Film Competition will be screened and the directors will be presented their awards at a ceremony following film screenings on March 26th.

Winners of the Documentary Film Competition are "Migration" (Koer) by Ramazan Dinler for Best Documentary Jury Award and "Zlf Livaneli: A Voice Between East and West" (Zlf Livaneli: Dou ve Bat Arasnda Bir Ses) by Orhan alr, Cengiz Kltr and Dirk Meissner for Best Documentary Audience Award. Winners of the Short Film Competition are "The Next One" (Sradaki) by Gndz Sevdi and "Red Light France is Good" (Krmz Ik Fransa ok Gzel) by Yasemin Aknc for Best Short Film Jury Award, and "The Well" (Kuyu) by Selman Nacar for Best Short Film Audience Award.

A panel discussion with the award-winning directors follow the screenings, moderated by Boston Globe film critic Peter Keough.

More information about the films and festival program may be found at www.bostonturkishfilmfestival.org

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