OPENING GALA

Deniz, an acclaimed author, is writing a book about his family and friends. He asks Orhan for critics. The day Orhan came to Istanbul from London, Deniz disappears. Orhan, Deniz's friend Neval and Deniz's lover Yusuf tries to find Deniz.

Director: Ferzan Ozpetek​

Writers: Ferzan Ozpetek (novel), Ferzan Ozpetek (screenplay), Gianni Romoli​

Stars: Halit Ergenc, Tuba Buyukustun, Mehmet Gunsur, Nejat Isler

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*Actress Cigdem Onat attended the Q&A after the screening.

A look at the 90's Turkish rock scene, one legendary stage band and its two genius members: Kerim Capli and Yavuz Cetin. Kerim (aka Kim) Capli toured with The Monkees and Hendrix back in 1967, 68. He co-wrote and recorded "Hard to Believe" with Davy Jones. What looked like a bright future for him in US ended abruptly. People thought he died; but did he?

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Director: Mehmet Sertan Unver​

Writers: Suzan Guverte, Mehmet Sertan Unver​

Stars: Kerim Capli, Yavuz Cetin

Mr. Gay Syria follows two gay Syrian refugees who are trying to rebuild their lives. Husein, a barber in Istanbul, and Mahmoud, a refugee in Berlin and founder of Syria's LGBT movement, pursue a dream: to participate in an international beauty contest.

Director: Ayse Toprak​​

Writer: Ayse Toprak​​ 

Set against the backdrop of construction activity promising to fill in the empty spaces of the urban landscape with entirely new neighborhoods, a story unfolds of an aging construction worker who, unlike his peers, has to drop all plans for the future after being diagnosed with a malignant tumor.

 

Director: Kivanc Sezer

Writer: Kivanc Sezer

Stars: Menderes Samancilar, Musab Ekici, Kubra Kip

A popular actor in Turkish cinema, Rıza Sönmez, goes behind the camera for this docudrama inspired by a visually impaired musician he met in Kars. Sönmez improvises a story about a barber who takes photos of people, streets, and objects, much like the character in Orhan Pamuk's novel Snow.

 

Director:  Riza Sonmez
Writer:  Riza Sonmez
Stars: Vildan Atasever, Israfil Parlak, Atalay Uluisik

Promising a visual feast of colors, costumes, light and locations, Sour Apples will have you simultaneously laughing and crying with its powerful acting performances as well as Yilmaz Erdogan's witty and memorable dialogues.

 

Director:  Yilmaz Erdogan
Writer:  Yilmaz Erdogan
Stars:  Yilmaz Erdogan, Farah Zeynep Abdullah, Songul Oden

Rauf hopes to win over his big crush, the older Zana, with the help of the color pink. But what does pink really look like anyways, and will he even be able to find it in his snowy little Kurdish village up in the mountains? Meanwhile, disturbing rumors sweep in from the outside world.

 

Directors: Soner Caner, Baris Kaya
Writers: Soner Caner, Naz Caybasi, Muge Seviker

Deniz, 33, ends up in a hospital after a traumatic night and has to face the ghosts of her past: Soon after the divorce of her parents, she is left behind at the age of five. Her father's control on her childhood's sexual discovery, drove her into a life full of parties, men and sex. After 25 years of her painful but liberating journey and finally months of hospital recovery, she manages to discover herself and furthermore the hidden secrets in her family drawers.

 

Directors:  Caner Alper*, Mehmet Binay
Writers:  Caner Alper, Mehmet Binay, Ismail Onur Coskun, Tilbe Saran
Stars:  Ece Dizdar, Tilbe Saran, Taner Birsel

 

*Q&A with Director Caner Alper after the screening

Short films selected by the STFF Shorts Film Committee out of more than 200 submissions. 11 films were screened in short films session during the festival.

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Congratulations to the directors, actors and actresses and anyone who gave effort to make it happen these top 11 films!

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