Venice Film Festival Director Praises Turkey's Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Director of the Venice Film Festival Alberto Barbera declared Turkey's world-renowned director Nuri Bilge Ceylan as one of the greatest directors alive, while pointing out that new generation directors in the country attract great attention with their films on Turkey's cinema.

After having won the Palme d'Or Award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival with his 'Winter Sleep" film, Nuri Bilge Ceylan had been invited to Venice Film Festival as jury member, where Emin Alper will compete for Golden Lion Award with his feature film "Abluka" (Frency)and Senem Tüzen will compete for Lion of the Future award with "Anayurdu" (Motherland) from Turkey.

After the announcement of the festival program, Barbera told Dogan News Agency "I believe that 'Once upon a time in Anatolia' is among the greatest feature films in made in the last 15 years. If I had to list the vest 10 director of today, I would include NBC without hesitating" and added that he is highly pleased to see Ceylan in the jury.

Barbera also shared that he has asked Nuri Bilge Ceylan to join the jury in Venice at a dinner. "I did not hesitate to offer him jury membership right after saying how I admire his cinema, at that very moment. I also made the proposition in written, and he willingly said yes. It was easy to convince him"

"In recent years, Turkish cinema has begun to attract our attention more, I must say. The new generation is capable of illustrating the Turkish society, with social issues, deep topics, in an innovative approach" said Barbera, hailing Turkish 'Sivas' feature film by Kaan Müjdeci, having competed in the festival last year.

He also addressed Emin Alper's "Abluka" film, noting "The film refers to Turkey's political atmosphere, a potential social conflict with an extraordinary metaphor. But this theme that he has treated in the movie should not be necessarily linked to Turkey's case. These conflicts exist in every country. The film is about an ethnic moniority, living in the hurdled border, in a region under control. The film refers to a society that does not recognize an otherness".

This year, the Venice Classics section will host the screening of award-winner "Umut" (Hope) movie by Turkey's fellow director Yılmaz Güney's 1970-made feature film.

In this regard, Alberto Barrera commented "This film is a masterpiece. It is gratifying to bring it to Venice."

The 72th Venice Film Festival will be held between September 2-12, in Lido di Venezia.

(Photo) - Rome