LONDON SEES TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL

THE 8th London Turkish Film Festival has commenced at the Rio in East London, with an expanded two-week format that includes a short film and independent strand, discussions and regional screenings.
The line-up includes Reha Erdem’s ‘Run For Money’, which has been selected for the opening night gala, and Bilge Ceylan’s award winning ‘Clouds of May’.
Halit Refi, who made the 1964 ‘Birds of Exile’, will be there to discuss his film, and he will be joined by Ayfle Polat, ‘Tour Abroad’, and Giani Fiavata, the actor and producer on ‘Border’.
Festival organiser Vedide Kaymak said the fact that the event had been lengthened was a sign of growing demand. Kaymak said: “Last year it was quite a success so it’s given us confidence to expand. We hope the festival will bring the Turkish-speaking community – be they Kurdish or Turkish Cypriots – together under the arts umbrella.”
‘Clouds of May’, which won this year’s European Film Critics Award, ‘Run For Money’ and ‘The Third Page’ will go on a brief tour taking in Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and Edinburgh. The festival runs until December 21 and is being co-organised by Charles Rubenstein.
(CMcL)