Competing in the National Feature Competition of the 9th Bosphorus Film Festival, crew members of “Brother’s Keeper” met with audiences in a Q&A session after the screening of the film at Atlas 1948 Cinema on Sunday, October 24. The session took place under the moderation of Bosphorus Film Festival Artistic Director Emrah Kılıç, with the participation of the film’s director Ferit Karahan, co-writer Gülistan Acet, producer Kanat Doğramacı, casts Cansu Fırıncı and Melih Selçuk.

Taking part in over seventy national and international festivals, “Brother’s Keeper” competed at the 71st Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama section and won the FIPRESCI award. “Brother’s Keeper”, winning the Best Script award at the 38^th International Fecr Film Festival, the Best Film and the Best Audience awards at the 36^th International Valencia Film Festival Cinema Jove and Special Jury Prize at the 37^th Hayfa International Film Festival, met with audiences in Istanbul for the first time at the 9th Bosphorus Film Festival. The film is about the efforts of Yusuf, who studies at a far-away boarding school, trying to take his friend Memo who mysteriously gets sick and worsens, to the hospital despite the rejections of the managers of the school while it is heavily snowing outside and the events that follow.

First to speak was Ferit Karahan, who told about the making of the film. Mentioning his own boarding school experiences, the director talked about the support they received from the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism during the writing process, that many times the script was rewritten and how this version became the final one. Karahan said that “One day while we were sitting in the kitchen with Gülistan, we talked about how lying became a concept for flexibility and resistance in oppressive societies, for example in schools, at home, the workplace or a country. Later on, we had some scenes build up in our minds, so we transformed them. We wanted to write a crime thriller based on where the events started. We actually see the film as a crime thriller.”

The film’s co-writer Gülistan Acet mentioned the path they followed in selecting projects. She said they worked on several projects together, some became films while most were put aside as drafts. She pointed out that the script of “Brother’s Keeper” went through the same process and managed to become a successful project.

Producer Kanat Doğramacı said that the film’s script was one of the most impressive ones he had ever read, and that was why he became part of the project.

On being asked about what path they will follow for the film’s candidacy for Oscar nomination, Ferit Karahan said he believes the film has a good chance at the Oscar’s because it is a watchable crime thriller and is about an important issue. The director also reminded that the film is internationally recognized, bringing home awards from various festivals including Iran, Russia, the USA and Berlin. Producer Doğramacı expressed their readiness and if they are selected, they will start working very hard for the Oscar nomination.

Asked about what it felt like to act with children, one of the leading casts, Cansu Fırıncı replied that “There were children everywhere. We shot the film at a real school and sometimes the students would be there too. After a while they started treating us like real teachers. Even children who did not act in the film came up to us when in need, when there was trouble or when they needed to solve something,” and added that it was a unique experience.

With the contribution of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism Cinema General Directorate, official partnership of TRT, support of Global Communications Partner Anadolu Agency, official partnership of Beyoğlu Municipality and organized by the Bosphorus Culture and Arts Foundation, the 9^th Bosphorus Film Festival will be hosting significant names in the sector along with internationally acclaimed cinema porfessionals in Istanbul. Details and inquires on films, events and screenings could be reached on www.bogazicifilmfestivali.com and on social media accounts.

Monday October 25 Festival Program

On the third day of the 9th Bosphorus Film Festival, film screenings for the National Feature Competition and International Feature Competition will be held.

Screenings at Atlas 1948 Cinema will be Muhammet Çakıral’s “Dark Blue Night” at 1 p.m., Erkan Tahhuşoğlu’s “Corridor” at 4p.m., Sinan Sertel’s “The Hero In Me” at 6:30 p.m. and Emre Kayiş’s “Anatolian Leopard” at 9 p.m. sessions.

At Kadıköy Cinema, cinemagoers will be able to watch Cristina Grosan’s “Things Worth Weeping For” at 1.pm., Han Shuai’s “Summer Blur” at 4 p.m., Aydın Orak’s “Time of Impatience” at 6:30 p.m. and Ahmet Toklu’s “The Hoop” at 9 p.m. sessions.

Within the scope of Bosphorus Film Lab Talks, the event “Making The First Feature” will take place with the director of the film Snow and the Bear, Selcen Ergun and its producer Nefes Polat on Monday, October 25. The event will be held at Akademi Beyoğlu Conference Hall starting at 3:30 p.m. with the director Selcen Ergun and the producer Nefes Polat of the film sharing a debut film’s production process and their experiences.

Tickets Are On Mobilet!

Screenings of the 7-day Bosphorus Film Festival will be held physically at Atlas 1948 and Kadıköy cinemas.

Festival tickets for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. screenings are 10 TL, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. screenings are 15 TL. Short film screenings are 5 TL. Tickets could be purchased on mobilet.com or at the box office at Atlas 1948 and Kadıköy cinemas during the festival.

Important Notice on Covid-19 Restrictions

As of September 6, 2021 Monday entries into events including concerts, cinemas, theaters, and crowded events will require a negative PCR test taken 48 hours prior to the event for persons who are unvaccinated. Managers/organizers will be required to examine HES code for vaccination/contracted disease (scientifically accepted post-Covid­19 immunity period) or a negative PCR test taken 48 hours prior to the event at the entrance. According to the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health regulations, persons who have completed their final vaccinations in accordance with the vaccine schedule could attend events as of the 14^th day of their final vaccination without taking a PCR test, those who have had Covid-19 could attend events in the following 180 days after their isolation process has ended without taking a PCR test. Those who have not had Covid-19 or vaccinations or a negative PCR test will not be allowed to participate in events.