It’s been called a bridge between Europe and Asia, with part of the country resting
in each continent. It is located where the three continents of the Old World lie
closest to each other. Contrasts between the old and the new add to the fascination
felt by visitors to this beautiful country. While the largest metropolis of Istanbul and
the national capital of Ankara boast the business, technology and hustle and bustle
of a fast-changing nation, alluring Old World communities where rural people
preserve the cultures and crafts of this historic land lie just a few hours away.
The Memphis in May International Festival’s 2008 honored country offers visitors
many dramatic and fascinating contrasts. The superb scenery and landscape reflect
a remarkable geographic diversity. It is a paradise of sun, sea and mountains,
where the idyllic Mediterranean beaches and the mountains, pine forests and
alpine lakes of the Black Sea region welcome millions of tourists annually. Many of
Turkey’s national parks and wetland sanctuaries serve as a final refuge for many
species that are almost extinct elsewhere in Europe.

    Turkey also has a magnificent past, one of the world’s great cradles of civilization.
It is a land rich in remarkable treasures, the remnants of 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. Formerly known as Anatolia and previously as Asia Minor, it has witnessed the rise and fall of many great civilizations, including the Hittites, Romans, Byzantines, Lydians and Ottomans.
Like the intricate tiles of a traditional Turkish mosque, the many allures of Turkey form a compelling and educational
mosaic… a unique and distinctive culture. Prepare to enter a proud land of eccentric sultans, whirling dervishes, the
great Atatürk, democracy, cuneiform, elaborate carpets, technology, traditional music, shadow puppets, Helen of
Troy, Mount Aðri, sporting events, rich coffee, kebabs and Turkish
delight… even tulips and Santa Claus!

    The city of Memphis pays respect to the Memphis in May International
Festival’s 2008 honored country, The Republic of Turkey. This year’s
Curriculum Guide offers teachers, students and all Mid-Southerners
the unique opportunity to not only discover this exciting and enchanting
country, but also provides unique contests and special events to help
make the 2008 honored country of Turkey come alive in your school
and classroom, as well. Enjoy the exploration!

The 44^th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (Altın Portakal Film Festivali) is getting ready to screen films and welcome stars and film professionals from all over the world on October 19-28. Featured in the lineup of the International Eurasia Film Festival, the international section of the festival, are films that will make their Turkish premieres, except for titles in the "Tribute" section. Along with showcasing an array of international cinema, the festival also will have a list full of exciting events, such as workshops, red carpet celebrations, question and answer sessions and festival parties. The festival will hold two competitions: The Feature Film Competition, accepting only films from Europe and Asia, and the Out of Competition section, open to films from all over the world. The lineup for the international competition section will be announced on September 10.

 

One of the festival’s fresh features this year will be the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) jury, which will determine the NETPAC Award at the International Eurasia Film Festival. In the Out of Competition section of the festival, there are films that have competed at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival such as Cristian Mungiu’s “4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days” that won the 2007 Palme D’Or, Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis,” the film adaptation of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, Bela Tarr’s “The Man from London,” Kim Ki Duk’s “Breath,” Catherine Breillat’s “An Old Mistress” and Naomi Kawase’s “The Mourning Forest.” Other films to be screened in the Out of Competition section of the International Eurasia Film Festival are Robert Thalheim’s “And Along Come Tourists” (Am Ende kommen Touristen), Enrique Fernandez and César Charlone’s “The Pope’s Toilet” (El Bano del Papa), Daniele Luchetti’s “My Brother is an Only Child” (Mio fratello è figlio unico), Barbet Schroeder’s “Terror’s Advocate” (L’Avocat de la terreur), David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises,” Eran Kolirin’s “The Band’s Visit” (Bikur Ha-Tizmoret), Johnny To’s “Mad Detective,” Quanan Wang’s “Tuya’s Marriage” (Tuya de hun shi) which won the 2007 Berlin Golden Bear Award, Gus van Sant’s “Paranoid Park,” Julian Schnabel’s “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Le Scaphandre et le Papillon) and Naomi Kawase’s “The Mourning Forest” (Mogari no mori). The winner of Cannes “Grand Prix” Award, Naomi Kawase, will be a guest at the festival and is scheduled to attend question and answer sessions to speak with Antalya move lovers. The third International Eurasia Film Festival will screen the Turkish premiere of Anton Corbjin’s feature film “Control,” a biopic about the lead singer of the legendary post-punk rock band Joy Division, Ian Curtis, whose tragic suicide made him a legend.

 

 “Control” opened the 2007 Cannes Festival Director’s Fortnight and grabbed enormous attention, applause and several prizes. Hailed by critics as the most prominent post-punk band of popular music history, Joy Divison forged punk’s wry and uncompromising energy into a melancholy-drenched, dreary sound and ignited a legend with a mere couple of albums, prior to their splitting up following Curtis’ suicide in 1980. ”Control” is the debut feature of Dutch photographer and music video  director Anton Corbjin, who is famous for his work with artists such as Depeche Mode, U2, Nirvana, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Joy Division.

 

In memory of two masters of the silver screen

 

A homage section dedicated to two virtuosos of the silver screen who recently passed away, Michelangelo Antonioni and Ingmar Bergman, featuring a cluster of milestone works from their gleaming portfolios, will also enhance the program of the third International Eurasia Film Festival. The unique point of view that lent Bergman a reputation as a “film philosopher” is to be celebrated with “Scenes from a Marriage” (1973) and the resplendent “Saraband,” the latter revealing the solid and uninterrupted strain of thought the director uncompromisingly maintains, while Antonioni, a name on par with Bergman in the practice of placing style above content, is to be celebrated with the classics “Beyond the Clouds” (1995) and “Blow Up” (1966).

 

Hanna Schygulla in Antalya

 

A colorful collection featuring the fascinating diva of the German screen, Hanna Schygulla, finds its place in the “Tribute to a Master” section of the third International Eurasia Film Festival. Having performed in the works of pioneers such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Wim Wenders, Schygulla has recently appeared in Fatih Akın’s Cannes Best Screenplay winner “The Edge of Heaven” (Auf der Anderen Seite). Featured in the tribute section are iconoclast director Rainer Werner Fassbinder hallmarks “Love is Colder than Death,” “The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant,” “Lili Marleen” and “The Marriage of Maria Braun.”

 

From the South China Sea to Mediterranean shores

 

A fertile ground for budding talents and home to a great many masters, the ever-innovative Far East approaches Turkey with giant steps in the Country Screen section of the festival. Featuring a cluster of successful titles such as “Eye in The Sky,” “Blood Brothers,” “Getting Home” and “Seung Sing/Confessions of Pain” in its screenings as well as a constellation of Hong Kong stars and directors on its guest list, the section will also feature exciting question and answer sessions and panels. Heralding the future strength of the institutional bonds recently established with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Film Festivals, the festival will proudly announce the first-time participation of five fresh titles from the People’s Republic of China.

 

Two new projects from the Eurasia film market

 

Expanding the size and the content of the Eurasia Film Market, the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival will extend a salute to international producers. Designed as a global congregation akin to activities featured in events such as the Berlinale, Paris Cinema, Shangai Co-Production, Pusan Asian Platform, Hong Kong HAF, the Project platform will be supported by the European Producer’s Club, People’s Republic of China Film Office and Hong Kong HAF. The platform will host internationally active producers Joachim von Vietinghoff, Antoine Simkin, Rustam İbragimbekov and Andrei Sigle, with their new projects as well as Lou Ye, who was the center of attention at Cannes with his “Summer Palace” and is currently working on “The Last Hour.”