The long hand of censorship
The long hand of censorship
Turkey continues pushing the rational limits of censorship and prohibition. It has already exceeded its own borders and now censored the film ‘Photograph’ by the Kurdish director Kazým Öz which was to shown in Poland.
Turkish Cultural Ministry has censored the film ‘Photograph’ by Kazým Öz of Mesopotamian Cultural Centre (MKM) based in Istanbul. The film was among the among many others elected from Turkey in order to be shown at New Horizons Film Festival to be held between 22 July- 2 August in Poland.
The films ‘Photograph’ and ‘ The last season Shavaks’ by Kurdish director Kazým Öz has been elected to be shown with in the scope of New Horizons Film Festival under the headline ‘the best films from Turkey made within the last 30 years’. However, after the films have been officially invited to the festival, the festival organising committee sent another letter to the director in which they said that they will not be able to show the film Photograph as the Cultural Ministry of Turkey which in one of the sponsors for the festival has threatened the festival by saying ‘if the film Photograph is shown in the festival the ministry will withdraw all its financial support.’
The Festival Committee has also stated that although they tried to convince the ministry in order to change their mind however, they could not. The committee further stated that the recent political films such as ‘Journey to the Sun’ by Yeþim Ustaoðlu and ‘To go’ by Hüseyin Karabey have passed the censorship exam of the ministry.
An anti-militarist film by a Kurdish director
The film ‘Photograph’ by Kazým Öz of Mesopotamia Cinema Collective is telling the story of two youth, one Kurdish and the other one is Turkish, whose way to the war coincide the same bus. It is also giving anti-militarist message by showing the realities of a dirty war.
The film was awarded the best film in Milano and Trieste Film festivals, Jury Special Prize at Valencia Youth Films Festival and the 12th Orhan Arýburnu Awards. The film has already been shown in several film festivals abroad.
Kazým Öz’s film ‘The last season Shavaks’ has been given post-production support by the Turkish Cultural Ministry.
Turkish Cultural Ministry has censored the film ‘Photograph’ by Kazým Öz of Mesopotamian Cultural Centre (MKM) based in Istanbul. The film was among the among many others elected from Turkey in order to be shown at New Horizons Film Festival to be held between 22 July- 2 August in Poland.
The films ‘Photograph’ and ‘ The last season Shavaks’ by Kurdish director Kazým Öz has been elected to be shown with in the scope of New Horizons Film Festival under the headline ‘the best films from Turkey made within the last 30 years’. However, after the films have been officially invited to the festival, the festival organising committee sent another letter to the director in which they said that they will not be able to show the film Photograph as the Cultural Ministry of Turkey which in one of the sponsors for the festival has threatened the festival by saying ‘if the film Photograph is shown in the festival the ministry will withdraw all its financial support.’
The Festival Committee has also stated that although they tried to convince the ministry in order to change their mind however, they could not. The committee further stated that the recent political films such as ‘Journey to the Sun’ by Yeþim Ustaoðlu and ‘To go’ by Hüseyin Karabey have passed the censorship exam of the ministry.
An anti-militarist film by a Kurdish director
The film ‘Photograph’ by Kazým Öz of Mesopotamia Cinema Collective is telling the story of two youth, one Kurdish and the other one is Turkish, whose way to the war coincide the same bus. It is also giving anti-militarist message by showing the realities of a dirty war.
The film was awarded the best film in Milano and Trieste Film festivals, Jury Special Prize at Valencia Youth Films Festival and the 12th Orhan Arýburnu Awards. The film has already been shown in several film festivals abroad.
Kazým Öz’s film ‘The last season Shavaks’ has been given post-production support by the Turkish Cultural Ministry.
