BLOCKAGE
ABLUKA
SADE MA’BAR
İran Iran, 2017, DCP, Color , 82’ International Feature Film CompetitionPersian with English-Turkish subtitles
Director: Mohsen Gharaei
Screenplay: Saeed Roostaie
Cinematography: Saeed Roostaie
Editing: Sepideh Abdolvahab
Music: Reza Mortazavi
Cast: Hamed Behdad, Baran Kosari, Mohsen Kiaie, Nader Fallah, Giti Ghasemi
Producer: Bahman Kamyar
Production Company: Iranian İndependents
Distributor: Iranian İndependents
Ghasem is working at Tehran Municipality and his job is to prevent vendors to sell their stuffs at the sidewalks. He’s to be fired because of his secret deals with some of the vendors and he’s looking for another job as a truck driver. He’s counting on his wife, Akram’s patrimony to buy the truck, however, Akram believes they should buy a small house and leave Ghasem’s father’s home. One day, Ghasem’s fight with a vendor creates an opportunity to overcome the problems!
Director: Mohsen Gharaei was born on 26 January 1984 in Behshahr. He began his career as an assistant director and programmer. He was the assistant director in Reza Mir Karimi's A Cube of Sugar. Don't Be Tired! is his first feature film.
GRAIN
BUĞDAY
B&W , 127’, International Feature Film Competition, , English with Turkish subtitles
Director: Semih Kaplanoğlu
Cinematography: Giles Nuttgens BSC
Editing: Semih Kaplanoğlu, Osman Bayraktaroğlu, Ayhan Ergürsel
Music: Mustafa Biber
Cast: Jean-Marc Barr, Ermin Bravo, Grigoriy Dobrygin, Cristina Flutur
Producer: Semih Kaplanoğlu, Nadir Operli
Production Company: Kaplan Film Production
Distributor: Match Factory
In an indefinite near future, life on Earth has been driven to brink of extinction following an abrupt climate change. And in the new world with redrawn borders, immigrants are kept at the camps, waiting to be transferred to the cities protected with magnetic walls. Meanwhile, chaos erupts as the sustainability of genetically modified seeds remains uncertain.
Two men’s paths cross in Dead Lands; secluded Cemil and Professor Erol Erin, a seed genetics specialist. Their journey in quest of the seeds to be grown will change Erol’s whole acquired knowledge...
Director: Born in Izmir in 1963. He studied film at Dokuz Eylül University. His feature debut “Away from Home” (2001) received wide recognition. “Angel’s Fall” won several awards following its premiere at Forum, Berlinale 2005. He directed The Yusuf Trilogy: ”Egg”, “Milk” and “Honey.” In 2010, Honey won the Golden Bear in Berlin.
CARGO
YÜK
Belgium, The Netherlands, France, 2017, DCP, Color, 91’, International Feature Film Competition, Dutch-French with English-Turkish subtitles
Director: Gilles Coulier
Screenplay: Gilles Coulier, Tom Dupont
Cinematography: David Williamson
Editing: Tom Denoyette
Music: Liesa Van der Aa
Cast: Sam Louwyck, Wim Willaert, Sebastien Dewaele, Chiel Van de Vyvere, Roland Van Campenhout, Josse De Pauw
Producer: Gilles Coulier, Gilles De Schryver, Wouter Sap
Production Company: De Wereldvrede
Distributor: Wide Management
Cargo is a story about how desperation can bring a family to the edge of destruction.
In the cold waters of the North Sea, Leon Broucke falls overboard his fishing boat right before the eyes of his eldest son, Jean. The old man slips into a deep coma, leaving his son behind with a huge debt and the responsibility of the family business. The absence of his father sets off an aftershock of conflicts between him and his two brothers. Francis is torn between his family and leaving with his secret lover. William returns home to escape his life of crime, and redeem himself. Desperate to build a future for his 8-year-old son, Jean turns to his brother's criminal past.
Director: Gilles Coulier is a Belgian director, producer, scriptwriter and co-founder of De Wereldvrede. His short films were selected for numerous film festivals around the world. In 2014 Coulier completed the fiction series 'Bevergem' for CANVAS and in 2017 finished his first feature Film, 'Cargo'. Both projects were produced by De Wereldvrede. He's currently in post-production of a second series "De Dag" for VIER.
CENTAUR
AT HIRSIZI
Kyrgyzstan France Germany Netherlands, 2017, DCP Color , 89’ International Feature Film Competition, Kyrgyz with Turkish subtitles
Director: Aktan Arym Kubat
Cinematography: Khassan Kydyraliev
Editing: Petar Markovic
Music: Andre Matthias
Cast: Aktan Arym Kubat, Nuraly Tursunkojoev, Zarema Asanalieva, Taalaikan Abazova, Ilim Kalmuratov, Bolot Tentimyshov, Maksat Mamyrkanov
Altynai Koichumanova, Cedomir Kolar, Thanassis Karathanos, Marc Baschet, Denis Vaslin
Production Company: A.S.A.P. Films, Pallas Film, Volya Films
Distributor: The Match Factory GmbH
In the slums of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek lives fifty-year-old Centaur; a simple man, who lives with his wife and son. In a former life he was a horse thief, but nowadays he leads a peaceful life. Then one day a certain Satyr shows up at Centaur’s house. He challenges him to steal the famous horse of a very famous man making Centaur once again the center of attention in the slum. In the mosque, people say that Centaur, who has never been very religious, prepares for the Hajj.
Director: Born in Kyrgyzstan in 1957, he is also known as Aktan Abdykalykov. After graduating from the Art Academy in Bishkek he first worked as a production designer and directed several short films before making his feature debut in 1998 with Beshkempir (The Adopted Son). The film won several prizes including the Silver Leopard at Locarno. Maimyl (The Chimp) and Svet-Ake (The Light Thief) screened at international festivals including Cannes and won numerous awards. Centauris his sixth feature-length film.
MORE
DAHA
Turkey, 2017, DCP Colour, 115’ National Feature Film Competition, Turkish, Arabic with English subtitles
Director: Onur Saylak
Screenplay: Hakan Günday, Onur Saylak, Doğu Yaşar/ Adapted from the novel of the same name by Hakan Günday)
Cinematography: Feza Çaldıran
Editing: Ali Aga
Music: Uygur Yiğit
Cast: Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Hayat Van Eck, Turgut Tunçalp, Tankut Yıldız, Tuba Büyüküstün, Kaan Uluca, Ahmet Melih Yılmaz, Uğur Aslan, Lara Aysal, Pervin Bağdat
Producer: Kerem Çatay, Ziya Cemre Kutluay
Production Company: Ay Yapım, BİT Yapım
Distributor: Heretic
Adapted from the award-winning novel of the same name by Hakan
Günday, which has been translated into more than 7 languages worldwide, “Daha” is the gripping story of a boy that gets to grow up in a world where there’s no room for innocence. Gaza is a 14-year-old boy who lives on the Aegean coast of Turkey. Together with his domineering father, he helps smuggle refugees to Europe, giving them temporary shelter and scant food until they attempt their crossing. Gaza dreams of escaping this life of crime, but can’t help being drawn into a dark world of immorality, exploitation and human suffering. Can you avoid becoming a monster when you’ve been raised by one?
Director: Onur Saylak, born in 1977, in Ankara, is an actor and director. He started his cinema career as an actor by playing the character of Yusuf in AUTUMN, which won Best Picture in the 15th Golden Boll Film Festival. After the national and international achievements of AUTUMN, Onur Saylak continued acting in cinema and took up directing for the first time with the short film THE JUNGLE. The award-winning film is currently being screened in festivals and has met with critical acclaim in national and international circles. His feature film MORE have premiered in Karlovy Vary IFF.
DEDE
DEDE
Georgia / Qatar / Ireland / Netherlands / Croatia, 2017, DCP Color , 97’, International Feature Film Competitio; Georgian with Turkish and English subtitles
Director: Mariam Khatchvani
Screenplay: Mariam Khatchvani, Vladimer Katcharava, Irakli Solomanashvili
Cinematography: Konstantin Mindia Esadze
Editing: Levan Kukhashvili
Music: Tako Jordania, Mate Chamgeliani
Cast: George Babluani, Natia Vibliani, Girshel Chelidze, Nukri Khatchvani, Spartak Parjiani, Sofia Charkviani, Mose Khatchvani
Producer: Vladimer Katcharava
Production Company: 20 Steps Productions
Distributor: WIDE
It's 1992. Young Dina lives in a remote mountain village where life is strictly governed by centuries of tradition. Dina's grandfather has promised her to David, who is returning from the war. But with him comes a comrade-in-arms, the handsome Gegi, and Dina falls in love. Is it possible to defy the firmly established order?
Writer / Director Mariam Khatchvani was born in Ushguli, Svanati and she studied film directing at the Shota Rustaveli State Film University. She has directed numerous documentaries, including ‘Verdzoba’ (2006), ‘Beyond the Window’ (2007) and ‘Lichanishi and Kvirikoba’ (2009).
LIFE AND NOTHING MORE
HAYAT İŞTE!
USA, 2017, DCP, Color , 113’, International Feature Film Competition, English with Turkish subtitles
Director: Antonio Méndez Esparza
Screenplay: Antonio Méndez Esparza
Cinematography: Barbu Balasiou
Editing: Santiago Oviedo
Music: N/A
Cast: Andrew Bleechington, Regina Williams, Robert Williams, Ry'nesia Chambers
Producer: Pedro Hernández Santos
Production Company: Aquí Y Allí Films
Distributor: Film Constellation
Standing on the edge of adulthood, Andrew yearns to find his purpose as a young African-American in today’s America. With his mother longing to find more to her life then parenting, Andrew is forced to take on the mounting pressure of family responsibility. His search for connection with an absent father, leads him to a dangerous crossroads.
Director: Antonio Méndez Esparza was born in Madrid, and studied Law at the university. However, he developed his entire professional career in the USA. He spent a total of 12 years studying and working in the USA before returning to Spain in 2011. In 2009 Esparza finished his latest short film, Una Y Otra Vez, which won numerous awards, and received an Academy Award nomination. His first feature film, Aquí y Allá (2012), premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2012 where it won the Critic’s Week Grand Prize Award. Since 2013 he has been teaching film at Florida State University. Life and Nothing More will be his second feature and first English language film.
BLUE SILENCE
MAVİ SESSİZLİK
Turkey - Belgium, 2017, DCP, Color , 93’, International Feature Film Competition, Turkish with English subtitles
Director: Bülent Öztürk
Screenplay: Bülent Öztürk
Cinematography: A. Emre Tanyıldız
Editing: David Verdurme
Music: Michelino Bisceglia
Cast: Teoman Kumbaracıbaşı, Roda Canıoğlu, Korkmaz Arslan
Producer: Tomas Leyers
Production Company: Minds Meet, Bantof Film
Distributor: Minds Meet
Hakan, a 42 year old soldier, is recovering in a severe military psychiatric hospital. With the gentle help of nurse Ayla, he fights his nightmares. Rewarded with a medal of honor and some money, Hakan is discharged. Arriving at his deserted apartment, memories of an absent family flood his heart. The quest for his daughter, Melis, confronts him with his troubling past. Lost and lonely, he wanders the streets of Istanbul. An unexpected visit of Ayla sparks off his journey to Sinan, his ex-companion with whom he served before. Will this encounter help Hakan to get a grip on his troubled past?
Director: Bülent Öztürk is born in 1975 in Bağlarbaşı, a small Kurdish village in Southeast Turkey, in a family of thirteen children. He flees to Antwerp (Belgium) as a political refugee. In 2011 he receives his Master’s degree Film Directing audiovisual arts at the RITS in Brussels.
MOTHERING
ANNELİK
MADARI
Iran, 2017, DCP, Color , 84’, International Feature Film Competition, , Persian with English-Turkish subtitles
Director: Roqiye Tavakoli
Screenplay: Roqiye Tavakoli
Cinematography: Morteza Gheidi
Editing: Hayedeh Safiyari
Music: Sattar Oraki
Cast: Nazanin Bayati, Houman Seyedi, Hanieh Tavassoli, Melisa Zakeri
Producer: Siyavash Haghighi
Production Company: Aseman Honar Development Co.
Distributor: Farabi Cinema Foundation
Two sisters who live in Yazd, a city located in the deserts of Iran. One of the sisters has abandoned her love and the other has been abandoned by hers…
Director: Born in 1985 in Yazd, Roqiye Tavakoli holds a BA in Cinema and a MA in Dramatic Literature from Sooreh University in Tehran. She is an instructor and head of department at Yazd Art and Culture University. Tavakoli is a member of the Iranian Short Film Association in Khaneh Cinema. She has made over 30 short and documentary films presented and acclaimed in over 50 local and international film festivals - awarded at festivals such as Armenia International Women's Film Festival Kin, Dubai Ibda Awards, Royesh Film Festival, Parvin Etesami Film Festival, etc.
POMEGRANATE ORCHARD
NAR BAĞI
Azerbaijan, 2017, DCP / Color , 90’, International Feature Film Competition Azerbaijani with English and Turkish subtitles
Director: Ilgar Najaf
Screenplay: Asif Rustamov, Ilgar Najaf, Roelof Yan Minneboo inspired by The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
Cinematography: Ayhan Salar
Editing: Elmir Hasanov
Music: Firuddin Allahverdi
Cast: Ilahe Hasanova, Semimi Farhad, Gurban Ismayilov, Hesen Aghayev
Producer: Mushfug Hatamov, Ilgar Najaf
Production Company: Azerbaijanfilm
Distributor: Buta Film
Written by one of Azerbaijani cinema’s young and successful directors, Asif Rustamov, and directed by Ilgar Najaf, Pomegranate Orchard is a loose adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. While the film focuses on the troubles and sorrow derived by the reunion of a shattered family, the pastoral beauty of the film location is reflected through Ayhan Salar’s camera. Gabil has started a new life in Russia, and his unexpected return after a 12-year absence unsettles the life of his aging father Shamil, his wife Sara and his son Celal who live off their pomegranate orchard. Reflecting the conflicts and contradictions between modernity and tradition, urban and rural life through an elegant style and humanistic approach, Pomegranate Orchard urges the audience to contemplate the family concept.
Director: Ilgar Najaf (b. 1975, Armenia, USSR), He studied film and TV direction at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts. He began as a documentarist, turning out Shacks without Shades (Kölgəsiz komalar, 2000) and There Exists an Old Man (Bir qoca var..., 2002) His feature film debut Buta (2011) won awards at several festivals.
PELA JANELA - A WINDOW TO ROSÁLIA
ROSÁLIA İÇİN
Brazil, Argentina, 2017, DCP / Color , 84’, , International Feature Film Competition Spanish, Portuguese with Turkish subtitles
Director: Caroline Leone
Screenplay: Caroline Leone
Cinematography: Claudio Leone
Editing: Anita Ramón, Caroline Leone
Music: Martin Grignaschi
Cast: Cacá Amaral, Magali Biff
Producer: Sara Silveira / Dezenove Som e Imagens, Maria Ionescu / Dezenove Som e Imagens, Hernán Musaluppi / Rizoma Films, Natacha Cervi / Rizoma Films
Production Company: Dezenove Som e Imagens, Rizoma Films
Distributor: Dezenove Som e Imagens
Rosália’s sadness isn’t completely gone, and her future remains uncertain, but by the film’s end, audiences sense that she’ll recover her equilibrium and, who knows, open herself up a bit more to life’s enjoyments. Even the film’s titles have a restrained yet poetic ring: And by using “window” rather than “door,” the director acknowledges a more hesitant opening that Rosália passes through. Jay Weissberg, Variety, February 7, 2017
Director: Caroline Leone was born in São Paulo, Brasil in 1981. She wrote and directed two worldwide recognized and awarded short films. Dalva, her first short film, was shot during her film school years in 16mm, was screened in over 15 international film festivals around the globe and won three awards. Her second short film, Joyce, shot in 35mm, also had a great response and was screened in official selections of important festivals. Joyce also won several awards, one of the most important ones being Best Film at the 2007 Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival and Best Director at the 2007 International Women’s Film Festival/FEMINA.
SON OF SOFIA
SOFIA’NIN OĞLU
Синът на София
Greece France Bulgaria, 2017, DCP, Color , 111’, nternational Feature Film Competition, ,Greek-Russian with English-Turkish subtitles
Director: Elina Psikou
Screenplay: Elina Psikou
Cinematography: Dionysis Efthimiopoulos
Editing: Nelly Ollivault
Music: Nassos Sopilis
Cast: Viktor Khomut, Valery Tcheplanowa, Thanasis Papageorgiou, Artemis Havalits, Christos Stergioglou, Iro Maltezou
Producer: Giorgos Karnavas, Konstantinos Kontovrakis
Production Company: Heretic
Distributor: Heretic Outreach
Athens, 2004 summer Olympic Games. 11-year-old Misha arrives from Russia to live with his mother, Sofia. What he doesn’t know is that there is a father waiting for him there. While Greece is living the Olympic dream, Misha will get violently catapulted into the adult world, riding on the dark side of his favorite fairy tales.
Director: Born on 8 March 1977 in Athens, Greece. She studied direction at Lykourgos Stavrakos Film School and sociology at Panteion university, both in Athens. She then studied cultural history at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris. In 2007, she participated in the Berlinale Talent Campus. I Aionia Epistrofi Tou Antoni Pareskeua is her feature debut.
Son of Sofia is Elina Psykou’s second feature. Her debut, The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2013 and, later that same year, Psykou was named one of the 10 European directors to watch by “Variety.”
