Organized for the 16th time this year by Safranbolu Municipality and supported by Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB) as one of the supportive institutions, “16th International Golden Saffron Documentary Film Festival” was held in Safranbolu between 09 and 11 October 2015.
After the events organized within the festival like panels, interviews, exhibitions and film screenings, the ranking participants were given their awards in Documentary Film and Photograph competitions in a ceremony.
In the festival Kyrgyz Director Tynai İbragimov’s work “Thirteenth” ranked first in Professional category.
In 16th International Golden Saffron Film Festival, in which 54 documentary films joined, Kyrgyz Director Tynai İbragimov’s documentary work “Thirteenth” ranked first, Director Mehmet Ali Poyraz’s documentary “Fire Hands” ranked second and Directors Musa Ak and Hasan Basri Özdemir’s film “Turab” was ranked third. On the other hand in amateur category, Çağrı İşbilir’s documentary “Inn” came first while Gökhan Öcal’s “Istanbul’s Voice” won the second place and Canan Cibo’s “Çityan”, came third. Besides, Azerbaijani director Adil Azay’s Documentary “Wise person in seclusion (Disciple)” won Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB) Special Award and Mehmet Akif Erbaş’s film “Atabey Massacre: Destroyed Memory of Kyrgyz” had TÜRKSOY Special Award. Süha Arın Special Award, known as one of the constituents of Turkish Documentary Cinema, was awarded to Gülnar Kara’s documentary “Masters of the Steppe”.
Besides in Photograph Competition, among 759 works “Stone Bridge”, work of Mustafa Zengin from Gümüşhane, came first. In the competition Erol Evgin was the second and Filiz Yıldız Celep the third winners. Jury’s Special Award was awarded to Fatih Balkan.
The awards of the ranking participants were presented by Mayor of Safranbolu Dr. Necdet Aksoy and Jury Members. President of Festival Committee and also Mayor of Safranbolu Dr. Necdet Aksoy stated that organizing the 16th of International Golden Saffron Documentary Film Festival was a story of success. He said, “We are making a real international event. 27 artists from all around the world came for this organization. They made shootings about photography and documentary art. This festival in Safranbolu has become Turkish World’s documentary film Competition. Many people were here from Kyrgyzstan, Bosnia, Palestine, Lebanon and Macedonia. At the 17th of our festival, we will make a more successful organization. We will start the meetings of this event from now.”
