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New York—November 9, 2009-- The Queens International Film Festival announced that Cars of the Revolution (Devrim Arabalari), a feature film by acclaimed Turkish director Tolga Ornek, is the opening night film for the 2009 edition of the festival and will screen on November 12th at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. The opening night Turkish film is sponsored by The American Turkish Society and Moon and Stars Project.

The opening night film screenings will be followed by the opening night party at rooftop of the Ravel Luxury Boutique Hotel in Long Island City, Queens.“The Turkish community is one of the largest in Queens and it has always supported us”, explained Marie Castaldo, Executive Director and Founder of the Queens International Film Festival, “This year, we continue to recognize and celebrate our diversity by showcasing the world’s best international film and honoring world renowned talent such as Meltem Cumbul and Isil Bagdadi.”

For its 7th edition, the festival will honor well-known Turkish actress Meltem Cumbul and present a special recognition to the Cavu Pictures team, independent movie mavericks Isil Bagdadi and Michael Sergio, highlighting their rise to prominence in the world of independent film distribution and production. Meltem Cumbul had leading roles in movies such as Karisik Pizza, Geboren in Absurdistan and the musical Anlat Sehrazat Anlat. Meltem acted in the popular TV series Biz Size Asik Olduk, Besik Kertmesi and Gurbet Kadini. Meltem's role in the movie Abdülhamit Düserken won her the Golden Orange Prize at the Antalya Film Festival. Next, she acted in the award winning and critically acclaimed movie Gegen die Wand.

 Isil Bagdadi has worked in the film industry since 1997 as a producer, a marketing and distribution executive. Her first film as a producer was Michael Sergio's directorial debut Under Hellgate Bridge which won numerous film festivals, including The Regal Cinemas Dreammaker award at the Nashville Film Festival, and was later released by Lions Gate Entertainment on DVD. In 2001, Isil and Michael started CAVU Pictures in order to finance, develop, produce, acquire and distribute independent films. As the President of Distribution & Marketing at CAVU, Isil has overseen the theatrical campaigns for numerous successful independent films.

About Queens International Film Festival

As a non-profit organization, The Queens International Film Festival is possible due to generous support from our sponsors and patrons. For more information on the tribute, screenings and other events, please log on to www.queensfilmfestival.com

Contact: Maria E. Lanao, Director of Communication, Queens International Film Festival Tel: 786-444-2700, Email: marialanao@queensfilmfestival.com

Founded in 1949, The American Turkish Society is America’s oldest not-for profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States. The Society achieves its mission by hosting educational events that bring together government and business leaders, journalists, artists and scholars covering a spectrum of fields. It also initiates and sponsors a variety of education and arts & culture programs. Its sister organization, Moon and Stars Project is dedicated to highlighting the changing face of Turkish arts and culture and establishing a two-way cultural interaction between the United States and Turkey. The two organizations will present the 11th Annual New York Turkish Film Festival on December 2-5, 2009.

For more information visit www.americanturkishsociety.org and www.moonandstarsproject.org

About The American Turkish Society and Moon and Stars Project 

 This film takes place in 1961 when during a cocktail reception following a national convention on Turkey's automobile industry, prominent Turkish journalists, bureaucrats and businessmen join President Cemal Gursel in a discussion of the country's potential of building its own industry. When the president says Turkey has the power to manufacture cars on its own, the issue suddenly turns into a challenge that everybody in attendance is willing to take.