We are proud to have the first U.S. retrospective of the films of Nuri Bilge Ceylan, one of the most talented directors of the contemporary Turkish cinema. With this four stunning and sublime films, Ceylan has gained international recognition as one of today's most important filmmakers.

The film enthusiasts in Boston had the opportunity to taste the films of Nuri Bilge Ceylan in the previous years. The only exception to this is his short film Cocoon (Koza) which will be screened for the first time in New England. Although it was his first film, Ceylan attracted the attention of the international film critics with Cocoon (Koza) and it was selected for the Short Film Competition of the 48th Cannes International Film Festival. His first two features, The Small Town (Kasaba) and Clouds of May (Mayis Sikintisi) were screened at the first Boston Turkish Film Festival in 2001. 

Ceylan is considered by the critics a quiet master of observational cinema who possesses an elegant and highly ecovative photographic sensibility. In his very impressive debut feature, The Small Town (Kasaba), which stars many of his family members, he delicately delivers a document of Turkish countryside. Clouds of May (Mayis Sikintisi) is a continuation of this graceful style which gives a fascinating portrayal of the making of The Small Town (Kasaba). Turkish writer-producer-director-cinematographer-editor Nuri Bilge Ceylan's latest film, Distant (Uzak), was awarded not only the Grand Prix at Cannes 2003 but the Best Actor prize (jointly) for Muzaffer Ozdemir and Mehmet Emin Toprak. Distant (Uzak) confirms the promise of The Small Town and Clouds of May, and Ceylan's status as a world-class director. Distant (Uzak) was also screened as the part of the third Boston Turkish Film Festival in April 2004. 

In this retrospective, we will also have a rare opportunity to screen the longer version of Clouds of May (Mayis Sikintisi) for the first time in the U.S.

I would like to thank our sponsors and board members for their valuable support and commitment which made this retrospective possible.

I hope that you will join us to enjoy the masterfully refined cinematography of Nuri Bilge Ceylan and breathtaking landscapes of Turkey.

Erkut Gomulu, Director and Founder

The Boston Turkish Film Festival

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIRECTOR AND THE FILMS

All films are in Turkish with English subtitles, except noted.