News Posts List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The American Turkish Society
and Moon and Stars Project
305 E. 47th Street New York, NY 10017
www.americanturkishsociety.org
www.moonandstarsproject.org
www.newyorkturkishfilmfestival.com

PRESS RELEASE

12th New York Turkish Film Festival Enters Second Weekend

New York, NY [December 9, 2010] - Having kicked off on December 3rd, the 12th New York Turkish Film Festival, presented by The American Turkish Society and Moon and Stars Project, will continue with additional screenings and workshops with guest filmmakers this coming weekend. Attending the festival's upcoming events are Sermet Yesil, the lead actor of Kosmos, Reha Erdem's utopian story of a thief that works miracles; Ilksen Basarir and Mert Firat, screenwriters and, respectively, director and lead actor of Love in Another Language, a heartwarming love story between a deaf man and a call center employee; and Inan Temelkuran, director of Bornova Bornova, a journey into the ironic everyday of listless youth.

"Following a successful opening weekend with sold-out screenings, we invite you to join us again this weekend, which has even more to offer with six feature films, including our Directors Abroad, Tribute to a Master, and Without Borders selections, as well as a celebration of contemporary Turkish cinema with our prominent guests," remarked Selen Ucak, Executive Director of The American Turkish Society, "and contributions are still accepted in support of this high impact program."

Taking place at the offices of The American Turkish Society, the workshops will feature Sermet Yesil on Acting (Friday, December 10, 4:30-6:30 pm), Inan Temelkuran on Directing (Sunday, December 12, 1:30-3:30 pm) and Ilksen Basarir & Mert Firat on Screenwriting (Monday, December 13, 6-8 pm). Festival Director Ayca User noted that the workshops are an excellent opportunity for those who are interested in different aspects of filmmaking and in interacting with prominent representatives of Turkey's thriving film industry and having in-depth conversations about their work. Visit the festival website for registration or further information.

The filmmakers will also take part in a discussion moderated by Binnaz Saktanber, Vice President of Moon and Stars Project, at the SVA Theater on Saturday, December 11, from 3-5 pm. The discussion is free and open to the public and press.

The 12th New York Turkish Film Festival will hold this year's After-Party at Crosby Street Hotel on December 11 at 10 pm. Guest list only. Tickets may be purchased in advance here.

###

PUBLIC INFORMATION

Tickets: Admission for each film screening is $12. Tickets can be purchased through the festival website or at will call before each screening.

Festival Passes: Festival passes are also available for $100, and allow viewers to attend all screenings as well as the After-Party and one workshop. Viewers may also purchase a pass and become an ATS member for $150. For more information or to purchase a pass, please click here.

Location: SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street (between 8th and 9th Streets). Subway: C, E to 23rd Street. Walk west on 23rd St. to the theatre.

Media Contact: Doga Kayalar-Polat, d.kayalar@americanturkishsociety.org, or (212) 583-7617; cinema@moonandstarsproject.org.

Sponsors: The 12th New York Turkish Film Festival has been made possible by a generous grant from the Turkish Cultural Foundation and by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, celebrating 50 years of building strong, creative communities in New York State's 62 counties. The festival is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. In addition, the festival has been made possible through the contributions of the following organizations and businesses: The Marmara Manhattan, Paragraf Basim, Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in New York and Turkish Kitchen as gold sponsors; MTS Logistics, Ramerica International, and UPM-Kymmene Kagit Urunlerias silver sponsors; and additional travel support to our visiting artists from Turkish Airlines.

Presenters: The American Turkish Society, founded in 1949, is America's oldest not-for-profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States. The Society also initiates and sponsors a variety of education and arts & culture programs, providing fellowships, grants, and other opportunities for cultural exchange between the two countries. Founded in 2002, 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.

For the Turkish version of this press release, please click here.