This Friday marks the opening of the 11th Filmmor International Women's Film Festival in Istanbul, where audiences will have the good fortune to experience an extensive programme of films and events curated and organised by women, for women.
I am so happy that Filmmor have programmed NEVADA to screen. It's the third time that Filmmor have presented my work over the years, and in 2011 I was very lucky to be invited to attend the festival in beautiful Istanbul.
Mum chummed me to the 9th edition, where the festival were just so welcoming of us both. We have such fond memories of our time there, and of the people we met. Including the precious Parisian treasures, Melissa and Cynthia Arra, who were in attendance with their incredible documentary examining sexual identity, L'ORDRE DES MOTS (2007).
Filmmor focusses wholeheartedly on promoting the solidarity of female filmmakers and artists. It is an important festival. The organisers fight constantly to make it happen each year; to promote women's rights and to encourage awareness and progression for Turkish women. The festival is run by a team of extremely passionate, bright and enthusiastic women - many of whom I was very pleased to meet.
The film festival 'on wheels' tours Turkey from the 15th March until the 15th April and following Istanbul visits Bitlis, Sinop and Izmir. Watch the festival trailer HERE, and view the programme HERE.
PLUS! AND! ALSO! Within the programme titled, 'A Purse of Her Own', the festival are presenting the dynamite Ruth Reid's documentary, NIGHT SHIFT, produced by the Scottish Documentary Institute. This is an absolute MUST SEE. View the trailer HERE.
Both NEVADA and NIGHT SHIFT screen twice, across the Goethe Institute, French Institute and Istanbul Modern. (Click on the titles for times).
Thank you very, very VERY much to Deniz Nihan Aktan! And, sending hugely grateful thanks and best wishes for this year to Melek Özman, Tugce Canbolat, ülkü Songül, Elife Sakin and Humeyra Erdin!
HAVE A GREAT TIME!
And here are a few photos from our visit...
