Grudge is a film that starts off beautifully, bearing a plot twist with so much potential. Yılmaz Erdoğan, who both stars in the film and also penned its script, could have done a first in Turkish cinema had he taken a more adventurous direction when developing the crime mystery set around officers of the Istanbul […]
A cursory glance at the poster of My Father’s Violin / Babamın Kemanı (2022) as you scroll through Netflix suggests a nostalgic dive into a virtuoso’s life. Whilst this new Turkish movie doesn’t take the ‘Whiplash’ route into an upcoming musician’s world, as Engin Altan Düzyatan portrays an already esteemed violinist, this film not only […]
‘In Good Hands’ (Sen Yaşamaya Bak) is a Turkish drama/romantic comedy on Netflix. My excitement of watching this new release transpired to be misplaced, as the film is rather underwhelming. The plot is spoon-fed to us right off the bat. Melisa (Aslı Enver) learns that she is terminally ill with “give or take 4 or […]
If you are a filmmaker with a new film that features or involves Turkiye, then the Taste of Anatolia – Films from Turkey film festival want to hear from you! Launched in 2018 by Cambridge-based film charity Balık Arts, this year will mark the fourth edition of the festival, which aims to showcase the rich […]
Six great Hollywood-inspired Turkish movies to watch at the Cinema Museum in Kennington, South London, as part of the Remakesploitation Fest 2022 this weekend! The Turkish film industry of the 1970s-80s was notorious for reworking Hollywood. From Star Wars through to Some Like it Hot, filmmakers in Turkiye would produce their own unofficial remakes of […]
The Turkiye-Germany Film Festival returns for its 26th outing with a magnificent gala on Friday, 11 March.. This year’s opening movie is Bergen, starring Farah Zeynep Abdullah in the lead role. The film is based on a tragic real-life story about Bergen, a Turkish arabesque singer with a cult following who fights to keep performing despite enduring […]
Turkey is mourning one of its greatest screen actresses, Fatma Girik. She died at a hospital in Istanbul aged 79. A statement issued by Liv Hospital, where the iconic actress was being treated for COVID-19-related pneumonia, said her death was due to multiple organ failure. Alongside Hülya Koçyiğit, Filiz Akın and Türkan Şoray, Girik was […]
A British Turk is set to become head of one of the UK’s most prestigious cultural centres. Bengi Ünsal has been appointed as director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). Currently based at the Southbank Centre, Ünsal will take over the running of the ICA in March 2022. The news was announced last Friday, […]
Binge watching the Harry Potter series during the Christmas season has become a yearly tradition for many regardless of age. If we’re being honest, television networks and streaming services take advantage of almost every public holiday where there’s a family gathering to air Harry Potter marathons, but Christmas takes the cake! It’s simply a comfort […]
Cyprus is featuring on the programme of a major cultural festival in Istanbul. Four films set in Cyprus and produced by legendary Turkish studios Yeşilçam are being screened as part of the Beyoğlu Kültür Yolu Festivali. The Beyoğlu Kültür Yolu Festival started on Saturday, 30 October, and runs for two weeks. The multi-cultural festival encompasses […]
