Turkish Cinema Associations Declare Boycott of Antalya International Film Festival

Earlier today, EDN has been informed about an action initiated by several Turkish professional audiovisual organisations who call for a boycott of the Antalya Film Festival (taking place from 21-27 October, 2017). We published the text without editorial comment. In the meantime, we have been in contact with both sides in the conflict and sought the advice of external professionals. We have come to the conclusion that the matter - although certainly worthy of a discussion - is of a purely national dimension and that EDN should in no way offer any advice about a position to take in this conflict. We maintain the text on our website, in order for you to form your own opinion. However, I feel that as an organisation we have acted prematurely and as the director of EDN I take full and personal responsibility for this mistake and I apologise to the Antalya Film Festival.

"We, the film-makers, producers and actors of the cinema industry of Turkey, are boycotting the Antalya International Film Festival which will be taking place between the 21st and 27th October 2017. We will not participate in any of the festival’s events.

The Antalya Film Festival was founded as a national film festival in 1961, and with the great enthusiasm of our filmmakers and the people of Antalya, it had been taking place until this year.

Our festival took on an international scope in 2005 and was duly accredited by FIAPF. However, in 2017, which marks the festival’s 54th year, the “national feature-length film competition” section of the festival was cancelled, by way of the decision of the mayor of Antalya, who did not feel the need to consult the filmmakers and the people of Antalya. The national short film and documentary film competition sections were also cancelled last year. Thus, the national character of the festival has been entirely terminated.

All of Turkey’s cinema associations, unions and foundations have asked their members not to participate in any of the events of the 54th Antalya International Film Festival. The Turkish National Cinema Industry does not stand by; does not support or recognize this festival.

Unfortunately, at this point, the 54-year-old tradition and spirit of this festival has been obliterated.

We ask all the world’s cinema artists, workers and cinema associations to support us by not participating in any way in the 54th International Antalya Film Festival.


Sincerely,

September 26th, 2017 Istanbul

FİYAB Film Producers Guild (Member of FIAPF)	SEYAP Producers of Cinematographic Work (Member of FIAPF)
BİROY Turkish Actors’ Collecting Society	SENARİSTBİR Scriptwriters Guild
BSB Documentary Filmmakers Guild	ÇASOD Contemporary Film Actors’ Association (Member of International Federation of Actors FIA)
FİLM YÖN Film Directors Association	FİYAP Filmmakers Association
Cinematographers Association	Short-Filmmakers Association
SENDER Scriptwriters Association	SETEM Cinema and TV Works Owners Guild
OYUNCULAR SENDİKASI Actors’ Union (Member of FIA)	SİNEMA TELEVİZYON SENDİKASI Cinema and Television Workers Union
SİNESEN Cinema Workers Union	SODER Cinema Actors’ Association
SİNEBİR Cinema Work Owners Guild	TÜRSAV Turkey Cinema Foundation
ASİTEM Anatolia Cinema and Television Guild"

 

 

Boycott Declaration in PDF Format

A PDF version of the document is available via the following link:
Turkish Cinema Industry Declares Boycott of Antalya International Film Festival (PDF).

 

 

 

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