The Ayvalık International Film Festival has a last-minute surprise for the filmmakers of tomorrow: The “Yeni Bir…” rising star award! As a firm believer in the importance of culture and art in our lives, Mey|Diageo has funded the award worth 40,000 TL which will be given to a new talent in cinema whose recent success has gained deserved attention.
Preparations continue for the Ayvalık International Film Festival, which will be organised by the Eye Society - For All Watching Occasions between 16 and 21 September. The festival poster designed by Emel Işıtan with inspiration from Elvan Alpay, a local artist from Ayvalık, was recently shared with the public.
The Eye Society - For All Watching Occasions was founded in Ayvalık this year with the aim of turning Ayvalık into an artistic centre with a special focus on cinema, organising arts and culture events throughout the year and taking such events outside of Ayvalık. This year, the Eye Society - For All Watching Occasions will be organising the first Ayvalık International Film Festival between 16 and 21 September.
With Azize Tan as director and Fatih Özgüven as programming consultant, the Ayvalık International Film Festivalwill bring together critically acclaimed local and foreign productions of the year, which have taken world festivals by storm. Besides film screenings, the festival programme also includes film-related interviews, panels on current issues, the “Young Cinema” programme, and workshops for children. The festival is made possible with the generous contributions of Ayvalık Municipality, Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality, Space for Culture, Komili, OGM Pictures, ASKEV, Kürşat Ayvalık, MUBI, Milliyet Sanat, Setur Ayvalık Marina, Ayvalıkzade, Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce and the Medya Takip Merkezi.
The organisers believe in building strong connections between the festival and the host city. No competition is included in the festival however, an award titled “Mey|Diageo Yeni Bir…” will start this year. The award will be given to an up-and-coming director, actor, screenwriter, editor, sound designer, etc. who is believed to deserve encouragement. The award also reinforces the mission of the festival in helping and encouraging young filmmakers. As the inheritor of a 150-year-old legacy, Mey|Diageo has funded the award worth 40,000 TL.
FESTIVAL POSTER INSPIRED BY ELVAN ALPAY
This year’s Ayvalık International Film Festival poster was inspired by the paintings of Elvan Alpay, an artist who bases her artistic expression on “nature”. Having joined group exhibitions in Paris, Cologne, London, Düsseldorf and New York, Alpay also held a solo exhibition at the Le Monde de L’Art gallery in Paris. Her work appears in the Paris Fondation Cartier collection as well as many private and public collections in Turkey. Collaborating with an artist from Ayvalık like Alpay is of particular importance for the festival. The festival poster was designed by Emel Işıtan.
FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME TO BE ANNOUNCED ON SEPTEMBER 9
The full festival programme of the Ayvalık International Film Festival to be screened at Ayvalık Municipality Vural Cinema, Nejat Uygur Stage and Ayvalık Municipality Park Amphitheatre will be announced on 9 September and the tickets will go on sale on Biletix the same day.