Siber: “Culture, Arts and Promotion is The Smiley Face of the Country.”

Zaim: “I have a long way to walk and a lot of work to do in the name of cinema.”

 

The famous Turkish Cypriot Director Derviş Zaim`s "Fish" film was shown at the opening of this year`s festival under the sponsorship of Creditwest Bank and Girne American University (GAU) which will last until November 13.

 

A cocktail reception was held in the foyer before the film screening at GAU Spectrum International Congress Center. At the event where speeches were held, actors Erdal Özyağcılar and Demeter Akbağ (who was unable to be present) who have contributed to Turkish cinema and Cypriot director Derviş Zaim were presented with honorary awards.

GÜZELPINAR: “We live the joy of realizıng the fest”

 

Golden Island International Film Festival Director - Yeşim Güzelpınar stated in her speech that they were proud to hold an international film festival in North Cyprus and thanked those who contributed.

 

Güzelpınar who stressed that human rights, women, children and the environment themed examples from British and Cyprus cinema will be presented at the festival and underlined that their goal is not only to bring together international art and artists with Cyprus but also contributing to the cinema production in the country and to the education of young people in this area as well.

 

Güzelpınar who stated that a contest is to be held in 2 areas in the Cyprus category at the festival, reminded that the results of this competition will be announced at the closing night.

EROL: “We want to continue by adding theatre to the festival.”

 

Main Sponsor of the Festival - Creditwest Bank General Manager Süleyman Erol stated that the bank, which is on the eve of its 20th year anniversary, aims to implement projects in the fields of environment, culture and arts.

 

Erol who indicated that one of these projects is the Creditwest Bank Memorial Forest and the other is bringing together the art and artists of the country with world artists, stated that they sponsored Golden Island International Film Festival in this context.

 

Erol expressed that cinema is not only seen as a cultural and artistic activity in Turkey and in the world but it also has become a giant industry that makes an important contribution to the national economy, and stated that: “I wish that our country will become a platform and the center for this film industry which will not pollute our surroundings and will make an important contribution to our beautiful country.”

 

Süleyman Erol recorded that they want to continue by adding theatre to the festival.

Siber: “Culture, Arts and Promotion is The Smıiey Face of the Country.”

 

Chair of Republican Parliament - Sibel Siber stated in her speech that it is a great pleasure witnessing the country`s first film festival, Golden Island International Film Festival, and wished that the festival will continue for years to come by contributing to the arts, culture and promotion of the country.

 

Siber who stated that at the festival alongside the examples from different national cinemas, 20 movies from Cyprus will also meet the audience, and stressed that the festival will make a significant contribution to not only culture and arts in the country, but also to young people who want to develop themselves in the field of cinema.

 

Siber who expressed that Derviş Zaim, who was born on this island and an internationally recognized director, is an important example for young people in this country who are interested in cinema and stated that the festival will contribute significantly to Northern Cyprus

 

Siber stressed that the promotion of a country in the international arena through culture and art, is the smiley face and soft power of the country.

 

Erdal Özyağcılar’s award was presented by Creditwest Bank Board Chairman Nusret Altınbaş. The award of Demet Akbağ, who was unable to attend the gala night, was received by her actor friend from `Sevdaluk`  - Erdal Özyağcılar.

 

Erdal Özyağcılar who made a short speech after receiving his award, expressed his happiness to attend a film festival’s gala night organized for the first time, to receive the honorary award and thanked those who saw him worthy of this award.

 

Özyağcılar congratulated the main sponsor Creditwest Bank and Altınbaş Holdings who contributed to the organization of the festival and wished for it to continue for many years together with theatre.

 

Later in the ceremony, Turkish Cypriot Director Derviş Zaim was presented with an award by the Oscar-winning director, producer and author Peter Fudakowski.

Zaim: “I have a long way to walk and a lot of work to do in the name of cinema.”

 

Derviş Zaim stated in his speech at the ceremony that he is happy and proud of being deemed worthy of an honorary award and being born in this country. Zaim expressed that he has a long way to walk and a lot of work to do in the name of cinema.

 

Derviş Zaim congratulated those who contributed to the Golden Island International Film Festival and wished for the festival to continue for many years.

OVER 50 FILMS ACROSS 5 DIFFERENT HALLS

 

Over the course of 7 days and nights, the festival will screen over 50 features, documentaries and shorts across 5 different venues.

 

The Festival venues include: Lemar Girne, Lemar Kaymaklı, Lemar Mağusa, Eastern Mediterranean University, Goethe Institute, Home for Cooperation, Le Chateau Lambousa and Girne American University.

 

The festival will hold a competition in "Cyprus Cinema" strand.  Awards will be given to "Best Short Fiction Film", "Best Documentary" and 2 "Promising Filmmakers" categories.

 

The patronage of the festival organized by Balık Arts which operates in the UK and the Golden Island Culture and Art Association in Cyprus is by Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece who has an Order of the British Empire and the actor Tamer Hassan.

 

The festival sponsored by Creditwest Bank, co-sponsored by GAU, is communication sponsored by North Cyprus Turkcell and media partnered by BRT and Kıbrıs Newspaper.

 

Independent Film Trust, Raindance Film Festival, East Anglia University (Movie Department), Home for Cooperation, Movies that Matter Film Festival, Detmold International Short Film Festival, Datça International Short Film Festival, Turkish Cypriot Community Association and Youth Power Cyprus have contributed to the festival.

 

Tickets can be bought at any one of Lemar cinema venues. Full ticket prices are 10TL and 5TL for students, handicapped and for over 65 years. The combined ticket prices are 85 TL.