Welcome to London’s 18th celebration of Turkish Cinema.

Our move from November to February now enables us not only to look back on a whole year of international cinematic achievements in 2012 but also gives us the opportunity to preview some of the new and exciting things to come in 2013. The UK Premiere of Yılmaz Erdoğan’s ‘The Butterfly’s Dream’, starring Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Belçim Bilgin and Mert Fırat is the climax of our Opening Night Gala, but that’s just the beginning. For example, the new film from Reha Erdem, ‘Jin’ is being shown just days after its appearance at the Berlin Film Festival. And that is just one of five outstanding and unmissable movies competing for the unique and ground-breaking Golden Wings Digiturk Digital Distribution Award, ensuring that the winner is widely seen throughout the UK and Ireland. Our distinguished international jury will announce the winner at the Gala on February 21.

Festivals, including Sundance, Berlin and Venice have already honoured many of the record number of feature films we are showing this year. Now it’s your turn. Audience votes cast after each screening will once again determine The Golden Wings People’s Choice Award, which will be announced at the end of the Festival. However, there is no doubt about the identity of the recipient of the 2013 Golden Wings Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the Opening Night Gala. The great Turkish actor Kadir İnanır will be honoured for his distinguished career and during the Festival will also be introducing a rare screening of Katırcılar one of the great classics of Turkish cinema which features one of his most memorable and powerful performances.

It all adds up to ten days of rich, exciting and innovative movies and events with features, documentary programmes, a selection of outstanding short films, Q&A’s and a Workshop with Reha Erdem. So please join us at the Odeon West End, The Rio, The ICA and The Cine Lumiere. It may be happening at a different time of year, but the London Turkish Film Festival is clearly as vibrant, informative and entertaining as ever.

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Festival Guests

• Kadir İnanır (Golden Wings Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient)
• Sedef Ecer (Golden Wings Jury Member)

• The Butterfly’s Dream / Kelebeğin Rüyası
• Yılmaz Erdoğan (Director)
• Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ (Actor)
• Belçin Bilgin (Actress)
• Mert Fırat (Actor)
• Farah Zeynep Abdullah (Actress)

• Ali Ömer Atay (Producer) Jin / Jin
• George Chiper Lillemark (Cinematographer) Beyond the Hill / Tepenin Ardı
• Nihat Seven (Director) Candle To Water / Candle To Water
• Raşit Çelikezer (Director) Can / Can
• Reha Erdem (Director) Jin / Jin
• Reis Çelik (Director) Night of Silence / Lal Gece