4th Izmir International Film and Music Festival
Organized in collaboration with the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and the Intercultural Arts Association, the 4th Izmir International Film and Music Festival was also supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the European Union Delegation to Turkey. The festival featured approximately 60 films from 30 countries, along with panels and exhibitions.
At IstinyePark Renk Cinemas and Institut français Izmir, films were screened in the National and International Competition, Special Screenings, Honor Awards, Intercultural Arts Achievement Awards, Homage to Masters, Memories, Portraits from Our Cinema, Directors Without Borders, Three Films from Three Continents, Music and Life, and Children of All Ages sections. Discussions with film teams were held. At Izmir Art, the exhibition "Artist Portraits by Necati Abacı" met art lovers, while at Izmir Culture and Art Factory, after screenings of Nedim Otyam's 1952 film "Toprak" and Nil Gür Pınar's documentary "Nedim Otyam," a panel titled "Pioneers of Our Cinema Music" was held. On November 3rd, the closing night of the festival, Kristal Flamingo Awards were presented at the Ahmet Adnan Saygun Art Center hosted by Şenay Gürler. The evening featured a mini-concert of unforgettable film music by Süheyla Çolak, Erol Mecihan, Emrah Sayın, and Yunus Boyraz from the Izmir Big Band.
Directed by Vecdi Sayar, the festival's Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to film writer and historian Burçak Evren and producer/musician Mehmet Soyarslan. Honor Awards, previously presented to masters such as Yalçın Tura, Arif Erken, Cahit Berkay, Zülfü Livaneli, and Zuhal Olcay, were awarded this year to Mazlum Çimen, while the Intercultural Arts Achievement Award went to Greek cinematographer Andreas Sinanos, known for numerous co-productions in Turkey and Europe. Reis Çelik presented Çimen’s award, and Ercan Kesal gave Sinanos’s award.
The National Competition jury, chaired by director Reis Çelik and including documentary director Bahriye Kabadayı Dal, composer Garo Mafyan, Ege University faculty member Prof. Dr. Lale Kabadayı, and actor-writer-musician Nilüfer Açıkalın, shared the Best Actor Award between Bülent Emin Yarar for his role in “Hakkı” and Serpil Gül for her role in “Döngü.” The Jury Special Award was given to Mehmet Eryılmaz, director of “Two Women Behind Bars.” Best Original Film Music was awarded to Ege Gür for “Kayıtsız,” and Best Sound Design to Serkan Köseoğlu for “Hakkı.”
Among the festival’s special awards, the Cinema Writers Association (SİYAD) Special Award and the FILM-YÖN Best Director Awards went to the film “Döngü.” The SİYAD jury, composed of Murat Tırpan, Rıza Oylum, and Suzan Demir, highlighted the film’s deep exploration of social injustice and refugee issues through its characters’ stories. FILM-YÖN’s jury, consisting of Çiğdem Sezgin, Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun, and Ümran Safter, awarded Best Director to Erkan Tahhuşoğlu for “Döngü.”
The "Izmir City Council Special Award" in the National Competition was given to "Kayıtsız," directed by Özlem Çıngırlar. During the award ceremony, Nilay Kökkılınç, President of Izmir City Council, thanked Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, festival director Vecdi Sayar, and all contributors for making this special festival take place for the fourth time in the city. Kökkılınç explained the award was given because the film emphasizes that cultural differences should not prevent unity in human relationships, advocating for common solutions and valuing humanity.
The international jury, chaired by French director Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar and including Prof. Ahmet Gürata, Andreas Sinanos, German critic Daniel Kothenschulte, and Italian film music composer Giorgio Giampa, awarded Best International Film to Nabil Ayouch’s “Everybody Loves Touda.” The Jury Special Award went to Yüksel Aksu’s “Tears of Cem Karaca,” and Best Music Award was shared between Iranian composer Behruz Sebt Resul for “Melodi” and Margherita Vicario for “Gloria!”
The TV Series Music Jury, chaired by Serdar Kalafatoğlu and including Alican Sekmeç, Asu Maro, Burak Göral, Cumhur Canbazoğlu, Oya Doğan, and Tuğçe Madayanti Şen, determined the festival’s awards in television music. The Best Original Theme Song for a National Channel Series was given to Ender Gündüzlü, Metin Arıgül, and Can Sanıbelli for “Kızıl Goncalar.” The Best Original Theme Song for a Digital Platform Series went to Toygar Işıklı for “Magarsus,” and Best Original Song went to Tuğrul Eylül Cerrahoğlu for “Hadi Kalk Gidelim” from the series “Yaz Şarkısı.”
National Competition Awards
Best Film Award: “Evcilik” Ümit Ünal, “Mukadderat” Nadim Güç
Jury Special Award: Mehmet Eryılmaz “Two Women Behind Bars”
Best Original Music Award: Ege Gür “Kayıtsız”
Best Sound Design Award: Serkan Köseoğlu “Hakkı”
Best Actor Award: Serpil Gül “Döngü,” Bülent Emin Yarar “Hakkı”
Directors Association (FİLM-YÖN) Award: Erkan Tahhuşoğlu “Döngü”
Cinema Writers Association (SİYAD) Best Film Award: “Döngü”
Izmir City Council Award: “Kayıtsız” Özlem Çıngırlar
International Competition Awards
Best Film Award: Nabil Ayouch “Everybody Loves Touda”
Jury Special Award: Yüksel Aksu “Tears of Cem Karaca”
Best Original Music Award: “Gloria!” Margherita Vicario & Davide Pavanello, “Melodi” Fouad Samiei
Television Series Music Awards
Best Original Theme Song for a National Channel Series: “Kızıl Goncalar” Ender Gündüzlü, Metin Arıgül, Can Sanıbelli
Best Original Theme Song for a Platform Series: “Magarsus” Toygar Işıklı
Best Original Song for a National Channel Series: “Yaz Şarkısı” Tuğrul Eylül Cerrahoğlu
