What to Watch at the Turkish Film Festival This Weekend
A cup of çay and a cat, one of the many featured in Kedi, a documentary on the street felines of Istanbul.
Image: Courtesy of the MFAH
The Houston Turkish Film Festival celebrates its fourth year of showcasing world-renowned works and artists from the culturally robust European country right here in the Bayou City.
The annual event kicks off this Thursday at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in the Brown Auditorium Theater, and concludes Sunday, October 2. From movie premieres to Q&As with directors, here's a preview of screenings that film buffs won't want to miss.
Sivas
Thursday, Sept 29 at 7 p.m.
Set in an Anatolian village in Eastern Turkey, Sivas is a coming-of-age tale that follows 11-year-old Aslan and his dog, Sivas, as he navigates the trials of young love. The film was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Don't miss a Q&A with director Kaan Müjdeci after the screening, followed by the opening night reception.
Ivy
Friday, Sept 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Ivy follows a group of confined men aboard an anchored bulk carrier for 120 days. The story brings new meaning to the phrase "cabin fever" as the crew suffers from hunger, thirst and isolation while testing each other's limits.
Baskin
Friday, Sept 30 at 9:30 p.m.
Directed by Can Evrenol, who won Best Director at Austin’s 2015 Fantastic Fest, this horror film follows five police officers into an abandoned building for a night shift they’ll never forget.
Kedi: Cats of Istanbul
Saturday, Oct 1 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct 2 at 7 p.m.
A colorful and heartfelt addition to this year's film roster, this charming documentary, directed by Ceyda Torun, offers a tour of Istanbul from the purr-spective of its cherished cats.
125 Years Memory
Saturday, Oct 1 at 7 p.m.
Directed by Mitsutoshi Tanaka, this 2015 drama shares the history of two humanitarian initiatives that linked Turkey and Japan. The film will be introduced by Ferhat Alkan, Consul General of Turkey, and Takeshi Sugiura, Vice Consul, Consulate General of Japan in Houston.
Lemonade (Limonata)
Sunday, Oct 2 at 5 p.m.
Directed by Turkish television and movie star Ali Atay, this comedy shares the tale of two half-brothers who meet for the first time at their father’s deathbed.
Tickets for each screening are $10. Brown Auditorium Theater at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St. 713-639-7531. mfah.org
