The Films of Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Co-presented by the Turkish American Cultural Society of New England and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

CLOUDS OF MAY

“MAYIS SIKINTISI”

Directed and written by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Cast: Mehmet Emin Ceylan, Muzaffer Özdemir, Fatma Ceylan, Mehmet Emin Toprak

1999, 131 minutes. In Turkish with English subtitles.

"Clouds of May" tells the story of Muzaffer, who returns to his native town to make a movie. His father, Emin, is bent on saving the small forest he cultivates on his property from confiscation by the authorities. And Muzaffer's cousin, Saffet, a young town dweller whose affords are all doomed to failure by bad luck - or is it by his own rebelliousness - dreams of going to Istanbul. Muzaffer sets about recruiting family and friends to work in his film. Told with subtle comedy and charm, and inscribed with beauty and a reverence for the lives of its characters, Clouds of May captures and strengthens the bond between a people and their land.

Festivals and Awards:

Official Selection in Competition, Berlin Film Festival.

Best Film and Fipresci Prize, Istanbul Film Festival

Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, Best Editing, Alexandria Film Festival

Best Film, Bruxelles Mediterranean Film Festival

Don Quijote Prize, Forum de Cinema (Strasbourg)

European Critics’ Award, European Academy Awards (FELIX)

Best Film (Grand Prix) and Special Prize for Subtitling, Premier Plans Film Festival, France

Special Jury Prize, Fajr Film Festival, Tehran-Iran

Silver ‘Rosa Camuna’, Bergamo Film Festival, Italy

Best Director, Buenos Aires Film Festival, Argentina

Special Jury Prize, Singapore Film Festival

Best Director, Beirut Film Festival, Lebanon

Best Script, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand

Best Artistic Expression, MedFilm Festival, Roma, Italy

Special Jury Prize, Mallorca Film Festival, Spain

Best Director, Best Lab, Second Best Film, Special Jury Prize for all actors, Antalya Film Festival

Best Turkish Film, Audience Award, Istanbul Film Festival

Best Film, Ankara Film Festival

Best Film, Best Director, SIYAD Turkish Critics Awards