The 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival started with a ceremony full of enthusiasm said "Our story is together"

The cinema excitement that will last until October 12 has begun; the 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival greeted movie lovers and the people of Antalya with an enthusiastic opening ceremony. The festival which says “Our Story is Together” will reflect all the colors of cinema all around the city with different events for a week.

Turkey’s most established film festival has once again ignited the spirit of cinema in Antalya the city that best suits its light on the silver screen. The 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival organized by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality began on Friday October 5th with a traditional procession. Beloved names from the world of cinema and television were greeted on the streets of Antalya with the enthusiasm and admiration of their audience. Among the artists who participated in the procession were actors Salih Güney Cihat Tamer Gülsen Tuncer Mehmet Özgür Şahnaz Çakıralp Kaan Çakır Burak Serdar Şanal director Engin Ayça and musician Mercan Dede a member of the National Feature Jury.

The night which brought together leading figures of Turkish and world cinema young talents filled with excitement about cinema and moviegoers who prefer getting lost on the silver screen to anything else began with a stage show by actor Serhat Kılıç after the red carpet ceremony. Coming to the stage with the song that became a part of Quentin Tarantino’s famous Pulp Fiction movie Kılıç explained the journey of the song from Egypt to Turkey from Turkey to America and finally from Hollywood to the entire world and said “This is how magical and powerful cinema is.”

A new tradition at the festival: Honorary Medal

After Kılıç’s show the host of the night successful actress Sedef Avcı came to the stage and greeted the guests by saying “Welcome to the opening night of the 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival the first festival of Turkey that honors the art of cinema in our country.” Avcı first announced a new practice that will be implemented at the festival starting this year. Presented by the National Feature Jury President director Ferzan Özpetek the opening and closing of the festival will be performed by an artist every year from now on. Avcı announced that this practice which aims to draw attention to the ‘awareness’ function of festivals will also have a symbol with the words “Just like İsmail Dümbüllü’s turban this object of honor belonging to the Golden Orange will also be transferred from one artist to another every year.”

The Honorary Medal designed by URART was presented to this year’s recipient actress Saadet Işıl Aksoy by URART Board of Directors Chairman and Creative Director Erol Sağmanlı and National Jury Chairman Ferzan Özpetek. Özpetek said “It is very important for the festival to have a face. Venice Cannes and Berlin were doing this now we are doing it too.”

Aksoy stated that he could not help but mention the femicides on the country’s agenda before talking about his Honorary Medal. “I am on this stage with incredible pain in the face of the femicides that are taking place. Maybe a little harsh but this is the reality of our country. I respectfully commemorate our murdered sisters and wish justice for all of us” said Aksoy continuing his words as follows:

“It is a great honor for me to be the host artist of the 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival where we have crossed paths before as actors or jury members of films selected for the festival. It is a great honor because from now on with this ‘real role’ that a different artist friend of mine will take on every year we will be creating awareness for the liberation of cinema for a cinema that speaks for a cinema that is a visual record of our memories. Therefore it is very important to be able to come together at the 61st festival for the Golden Orange the 60th of which could not be held and for the future festivals the 160th of which will be held long after us. Everyone who came to the festival and contributed to it is very valuable for this reason. I thank you very much for this togetherness. Because ‘our story is together’; if we come together we can share our stories. If we come together we can talk about our problems. More importantly as dear Ferzan Özpetek said if we come together we can pave the way for young filmmakers bright new talents and their films. "I will proudly carry this valuable medal specially designed for the festival as a symbol of free cinema until I hand it over to my artist friend on this stage next year. With this feeling and belief I open this year's festival and wish you all a wonderful festival week.”

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and Festival President Muhittin Böcek who came to the stage after Aksoy stated that his interest in cinema started when he was a child and that is why the Golden Orange has a very special importance for him and said the following:

“The Golden Orange definitely leaves a mark and a memory in the lives of many of us. I used to play movies in Antalya with the cinema camera I bought with the prize I won when I was 15. I would announce the movie with the announcements I made on my way back from school and show the movie in the evening. I cannot forget this announcement the excitement and the enthusiasm of the audience. The light reflected by the cinema camera in those years still illuminates my life. For me the Golden Orange is that dream that came true with the cinema camera the procession I came to watch with the horse-drawn carriage Yeşilçam our childhood our youth believing achieving. It is our life itself. I promised during the election process in 2019 that the Golden Orange would return to its essence and now I am happy to keep my promise. Last year being used as a political instrument due to the local elections deeply saddened us all but we left the unfortunate events and resentments behind. We were determined to do whatever was necessary. I would like to thank the cinema workers the press and the people who supported us in this struggle. I respectfully commemorate the mayors and artists who passed away especially Dr. Avni Tolunay who took the steps for today in 1964 and was the architect of the festival and I would like to thank them and all the mayors who served in the past. We are proud and honored to host one of the most deep-rooted festivals in cinema.”

Böcek concluded his words by saying; “I emphasize in the presence of all of you; enough is enough! I wish to see beautiful days where there is no child abuse women are not massacred and animals are not subjected to cruelty. Long live cinema long live Golden Orange! Stay with love stay with the republic stay with Atatürk.”

Greeting the guests at the ceremony Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin drew attention to the fact that Turkish cinema and recently Turkish-made TV series successfully reflect Turkey both domestically and abroad and said:

“In our youth we would run away to the cinema. As in the festival motto we would find ourselves in those stories. Turkish cinema is a summary of our recent history. We continue to tell our story very successfully on the international platform thanks to these great artists. For example issues such as migration from villages to cities and feudalism were reflected in Yeşilçam. Kibar Feyzo and Züğürt Ağa are the first examples that come to my mind; they deal with the ‘ağa’ issue from different perspectives. Turkish cinema did this in the 2000s as well; I watched the movie Bir Zamanlar Anadoluda. I worked in small towns for years I felt like I came out of that movie. These are great achievements. Cinema is a milestone of culture it should be protected. As we have seen during the pandemic cinema definitely needs support. This is why these festivals are so important. I would also like to thank the TV series sector; thanks to them Turkish has become fashionable in the world everyone is learning Turkish.”

Honorary Awards to Erdal Özyağcılar Selçuk Yöntem Şerif Sezer Müjdat Gezen and Işıl Yücesoy

Following his speech Şahin presented the first Honorary Award of the festival to master artist Erdal Özyağcılar with Böcek. Özyağcılar who received his award said; “Tonight is very important to me. Tonight it made me say; Erdal I am so glad you became an actor. You crowned my 55 years of artistic labor. If I were to be born again I would still do this job on these lands. Those who gave me this award; those who love me in the hall outside tonight you gave me peace honor and hope.”

Master actor Selçuk Yöntem received his Honorary Award from successful actor Mehmet Aslantuğ who will also give a master class as part of the festival. While receiving his award Yöntem said “I have participated in the festival for years but the pride and happiness of tonight is different! It was a separate surprise and pride to receive the award from my valuable friend. Long live art!”

Another Honorary Award winner master actor Şerif Sezer was presented his award by Emre Altuğ who started his career as an actor despite being a musician. Altuğ described Sezer before the award with the following words:

“My admiration for her has increased exponentially over the years. It has increased so much that I have had the opportunity to act together for two years. After getting to know her I admired her dedication to her profession her humanity and her heart. She is my life!”

Master actor Şerif Sezer also received his award with the words “I would like to thank all my directors and producers who touched my life on this journey and entrusted me with these beautiful female roles. Let me also thank the unsung heroes of our cinema and the workers of cinema. Long live cinema long live the Golden Orange!”

Müjdat Gezen one of this year’s Honorary Award winners who could not attend the ceremony due to health problems sent a video message to the night. Gezen who said “Forgive me for not being able to come” said “I thank you very much for this award you deemed me worthy of. I hope to see you on happy days.”

The master actress Işıl Yücesoy who is known for her musician and producer identities as well as her acting received her award from her colleague Tuba Büyüküstün who has earned a rightful place in television history and with whom she worked together in the series “Çemberimde Gül Oya” directed by Çağan Irmak. Büyüküstün presented the master actress with the following words:

“I worked with Işıl in two jobs. You see the most beautiful thing in a person you embrace it and you inevitably understand that you need to make it bigger. As a female actress in this country I am proud to give you this award. Thank you for everything.”

Yücesoy who received the award with the words “A wonderful night... Hello to each and every one of you with my love and respect” first spoke about Büyüküstün: “While I was playing in Çemberimde Gül Oya I looked and saw a young girl in front of me! As if she were water... Who are you? I said. That day I realized who she was. He also proved to you who he is very well”

Yücesoy later expressed his gratitude with the following words: “What a great pleasure it is to be among you; I can tell you! I would like to thank Mr. Ferzan Özpetek and the jury for granting me this honorable and respected award and Mayor Muhittin Böcek who came out stubbornly saying ‘I can do this job’. If they allow me I would like to thank you in particular; you who have held my hand and looked into my eyes for 55 years in the hall and outside! I bow to all of you with love respect and gratitude.”

Success Awards; Farah Zeynep Abdullah and Aras Bulut İynemli

The Success Awards presented to motivate young and successful actors at the opening ceremony also found their owners. The first of the Success Awards that Aras Bulut İynemli and Farah Zeynep Abdullah were honored with this year was given to Aras Bulut İynemli by actress Perihan Savaş who won the Golden Orange in 1974 with the film “Bedrana”. Savaş who came to the stage saying “Thank God for those who bring us together” continued her speech as follows:

“We were very upset last year but this year I would like to thank everyone for this festival that was organized with all the efforts of the president and without any help. When I first saw Aras Bulut İynemli there was a tremendous light in his eyes. I said he will be a very good actor. Because he is ambitious in love with his job modest and someone who locks himself in the house and does not meet with anyone when preparing for a character”

İynemli who came to the stage to receive his award said in his thank you speech “I am really proud to be here. It is a great honor to receive an award but it is more meaningful to receive it from Perihan Savaş. I bow respectfully to all the masters of my profession in her presence” he said.

Farah Zeynep Abdullah received her award from Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Gülşah Deniz Atalar and actress Işıl Yücesoy. Abdullah who came to the stage with Yücesoy’s words “Oh she is so meticulous respectful and qualified; her name is Farah. May God always give the wind of success to these children” thanked for her award and said “I had prepared a speech but my brain didn’t accept it the agenda is very bad. With your permission I want to receive this award for women who are trying to exist in this order dominated by masculinity and manliness who are not afraid to speak who get tired but don’t give up.”

The spontaneous performance of Serhat Kılıç and Aras Bulut İynemli who came back to the stage after the awards was one of the brightest moments of the night.