Turkish film community slams Berlinale for ignoring earthquake

The co-chiefs of the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival have slammed the Berlin Film Festival for ignoring the powerful earthquake that has recently struck Turkey and Syria and killed tens of thousands of people.

“The festival’s opening ceremony started with Ukraine, ended with Ukraine... But I don’t think they ever mentioned Turkey,” said Ahmet Boyacioglu, the president of the fest, which is one of the most important in Turkey.

The Berlin Film Festival says its invitation to the opening ceremony had a written appeal to make donations for the Turkish earthquake relief effort to the international charity Doctors Without Borders.

“While I’m here, if a meeting doesn’t start with mention of the earthquake, I feel particularly depressed. And unfortunately that is happening,” Antalya’s artistic director, Basak Emre, noted.

The 7.8 powerful earthquake that hit Turkey and neighboring Syria earlier this month killed more than 48,000 people and displaced tens of thousands.

Boyacioglu also said the European festival does not pay attention to Turkish films and cineastes.

“To be honest, Europe is just not very interested in Turkey at the moment. We are somehow outsiders,” said Boyacioglu, noting that there is only one Turkish film in the Berlin selection and “not a single Turkish jury member” in the German event. 

The Berlin Film Festival was previously decried by Iran over its decision to ban film companies with direct ties to the Iranian government from attending this year’s edition of the event.

The festival’s organizers said the decision came as part of their support for the foreign-backed riots that erupted in Iran last September. The decision was slammed by Tehran as politically-motivated.

The 73rd edition of the Berlinale is currently underway in Germany and will run until February 26.

SQ/MG