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Today's Zaman, Turkey
July 21 2014
Golden Apricot International Film Festival: beyond borders
This year's Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival in
Armenia was a very special occasion for me. Not only were the two
films I produced, `Kusursuzlar' (The Impeccables) and `Ziazan,' having
their Armenian premieres, but I also had the honor of being part of
the jury of the Armenian Turkish Cinema Platform (ATCP). The ATCP is
organized under the umbrella of the cooperation between Turkey's
Anadolu Kültür nongovernmental organization and the Golden Apricot
Film Festival, which marked its 11th anniversary between July 13 and
20. The ATCP's aim is to establish a common network through which
filmmakers from both countries can cooperate and produce films
together. The ATCP gathers twice a year, once in Ä°stanbul and once in
Yerevan, to award production grants to documentaries and short films
that are to be made by Armenian and Turkish filmmakers and have the
potential to become co-productions between the two countries.
At a time when the two countries do not enjoy diplomatic relations,
the ATCP is one of the most important steps in normalizing the
relationships between the people of these two countries and to begin a
constructive cross-border dialogue. It isn't at all surprising that
this initial step has been taken by culture organizations, for it is
always individuals from this sector who have an open mind and are
willing to take risks for positive transformation. Thus it is
especially important to point out the determination and efforts of Ms.
Melek Ulagay and Ms. Susannah Harutyunyan, who have proven how cinema
can be a means for mutual understanding.
`Ziazan,' directed by Derya Durmaz, was a one of the short film
projects supported by the ATCP and which I had the chance to join as a
co-producer. The making of the film was one of the most enriching and
educating experiences I've ever had. We were a mixed Armenian and
Turkish crew and we gathered to shoot the story of a 4-year-old
Armenian girl who was trying to cross the Armenian-Turkish border in
order to reach her favorite chocolate. Our bilateral collaboration
with filmmakers Arevik Avenesyan, Hasmik Hovhannisyan and Aram
Xachatryan was such a fruitful endeavor that the film went on to win
several prizes as a short film and through its extensive press
coverage emphasized how a child's innocent outlook on life and human
relationships proved the futility and absurdity of politics. The
film's optimism became a glimmer of hope for a future of peace and
mutual recognition.
Thus when we got together to examine the 10 projects that were in the
ATCP selection this year, I cannot emphasize enough how excited I was
when I saw the quality and potential of all the projects. They all had
different subject matter but were all focused on themes of
reconciliation and recognition of the past in order to build a
brighter and shared future. Several projects that originated from
Turkey all had a common point of view in underlining the enrichment
and influence of Armenian culture that was lost in Turkey after 1915.
Several of the projects originating from Armenia were focused on
rediscovering one's roots in Anatolia with the companionship of a
Turkish protagonist.
We awarded the main prize to Sevda Usanoglu's short film project `A
Blurry Pastel Painting,' which is an ambitious cinematic inquiry into
the concept of ethnic identity and collective memory, linking the past
to the present. The `special mention' title was granted to Mesut YaÅ?ar
Tufan and Ara Shirinian's documentary project `On The Steps of
Tchouhadjian,' a documentary project discovering the life and music of
Armenian composer Tchouhadjian with the aim of presenting the
forgotten treasures of Turkish and Armenian common cultural history.
Our three-day workshop during the festival reminded me of the
importance of discussion and exchange, not only through the festival's
ATCP sidebar but by the festival's initiative in showing Turkish films
to the Armenian audience, such as `Once Upon A Time In Anatolia,'
`Araf' and `I'm Not Him,' among others. At this point there is nothing
to say but long live cinema and its power to bring people together and
overcome barriers -- something we can sometimes forget amidst the
kafuffle of the industry.
http://www.todayszaman.com/arts-culture_golden-apricot-international-film-festival-beyond-borders_353636.html
July 21 2014
Golden Apricot International Film Festival: beyond borders
This year's Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival in
Armenia was a very special occasion for me. Not only were the two
films I produced, `Kusursuzlar' (The Impeccables) and `Ziazan,' having
their Armenian premieres, but I also had the honor of being part of
the jury of the Armenian Turkish Cinema Platform (ATCP). The ATCP is
organized under the umbrella of the cooperation between Turkey's
Anadolu Kültür nongovernmental organization and the Golden Apricot
Film Festival, which marked its 11th anniversary between July 13 and
20. The ATCP's aim is to establish a common network through which
filmmakers from both countries can cooperate and produce films
together. The ATCP gathers twice a year, once in Ä°stanbul and once in
Yerevan, to award production grants to documentaries and short films
that are to be made by Armenian and Turkish filmmakers and have the
potential to become co-productions between the two countries.
At a time when the two countries do not enjoy diplomatic relations,
the ATCP is one of the most important steps in normalizing the
relationships between the people of these two countries and to begin a
constructive cross-border dialogue. It isn't at all surprising that
this initial step has been taken by culture organizations, for it is
always individuals from this sector who have an open mind and are
willing to take risks for positive transformation. Thus it is
especially important to point out the determination and efforts of Ms.
Melek Ulagay and Ms. Susannah Harutyunyan, who have proven how cinema
can be a means for mutual understanding.
`Ziazan,' directed by Derya Durmaz, was a one of the short film
projects supported by the ATCP and which I had the chance to join as a
co-producer. The making of the film was one of the most enriching and
educating experiences I've ever had. We were a mixed Armenian and
Turkish crew and we gathered to shoot the story of a 4-year-old
Armenian girl who was trying to cross the Armenian-Turkish border in
order to reach her favorite chocolate. Our bilateral collaboration
with filmmakers Arevik Avenesyan, Hasmik Hovhannisyan and Aram
Xachatryan was such a fruitful endeavor that the film went on to win
several prizes as a short film and through its extensive press
coverage emphasized how a child's innocent outlook on life and human
relationships proved the futility and absurdity of politics. The
film's optimism became a glimmer of hope for a future of peace and
mutual recognition.
Thus when we got together to examine the 10 projects that were in the
ATCP selection this year, I cannot emphasize enough how excited I was
when I saw the quality and potential of all the projects. They all had
different subject matter but were all focused on themes of
reconciliation and recognition of the past in order to build a
brighter and shared future. Several projects that originated from
Turkey all had a common point of view in underlining the enrichment
and influence of Armenian culture that was lost in Turkey after 1915.
Several of the projects originating from Armenia were focused on
rediscovering one's roots in Anatolia with the companionship of a
Turkish protagonist.
We awarded the main prize to Sevda Usanoglu's short film project `A
Blurry Pastel Painting,' which is an ambitious cinematic inquiry into
the concept of ethnic identity and collective memory, linking the past
to the present. The `special mention' title was granted to Mesut YaÅ?ar
Tufan and Ara Shirinian's documentary project `On The Steps of
Tchouhadjian,' a documentary project discovering the life and music of
Armenian composer Tchouhadjian with the aim of presenting the
forgotten treasures of Turkish and Armenian common cultural history.
Our three-day workshop during the festival reminded me of the
importance of discussion and exchange, not only through the festival's
ATCP sidebar but by the festival's initiative in showing Turkish films
to the Armenian audience, such as `Once Upon A Time In Anatolia,'
`Araf' and `I'm Not Him,' among others. At this point there is nothing
to say but long live cinema and its power to bring people together and
overcome barriers -- something we can sometimes forget amidst the
kafuffle of the industry.
http://www.todayszaman.com/arts-culture_golden-apricot-international-film-festival-beyond-borders_353636.html