MFAH Presents 5th Annual Houston Turkish Film Festival

From Friday, October 13, through Sunday, October 15, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, presents the 5th annual Houston Turkish Film Festival. This year's line-up includes five acclaimed releases from Turkey, including the award-winning film Iftarlik Gazoz (61 Days), portraying the cultural habits of rural villagers by telling the story of a young boy during the 1970s; The Turkish Way, highlighting The Roca Brothers and their five-week tour discovering Turkey's rich cuisine; and more.

Tickets and screening details are currently available online.

Dates Friday, October 13-Sunday, October 15

Overview The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, presents the 5th annual Houston Turkish Film Festival. This year, the line-up includes five acclaimed releases from Turkey, including award-winning films Iftarlik Gazoz, Babamin Kanatlari, Mavi Bisiklet, and Annemin Yarasi. Special guests will participate in Q&As as part of the screenings. Visit www.mfah.org/tff for more details regarding films and speakers.

Screenings Iftarlik Gazoz (61 Days)

(Directed by Yüksel Aksu, Turkey, 2016, 109 min., in Turkish with English subtitles)

Friday, October 13, at 7 p.m.

Ambitious Adem (Berat Efe Parlar) is a young boy living with his family in Ula, Turkey during the 1970s. With school finished, Adem wants to work during his summer vacation and ends up getting a job selling soda pop with a vendor (Cem Yilmaz) during Ramadan. Even though children are not allowed to fast during the holy holiday, Adem secretly takes on the practice while working on the job. Consequently, he experiences moments of delirium as he pedals the soda cart in the scorching summer. This charming comedy/drama richly portrays the cultural habits of rural villagers in southwestern Turkey during the 1970s.

Babamin Kanatlari (My Father's Wings)

(Directed by Kivanç Sezer, Turkey, 2016, 101 min., in Turkish and Kurdish with

English subtitles)

*Ticketholders are invited to the Centerpiece Reception with special guests at 6 p.m. in the North Foyer of the Caroline Wiess Law Building following the screening.

Saturday, October 14, at 4 p.m.

Kivanç Sezer's self-assured debut tackles the dire fate of workers on a construction site, weighing the price of human life and dignity. Set against the frenzy of Istanbul's urban residential building boom, workers constructing luxury apartments are not rewarded monetarily. Aging Ibrahim (Menderes Samancilar) labors to support his family, in spite of his deteriorating health. After revealing that Ibrahim has lung cancer, the film branches off in other storylines following ambitious Yusuf (Musab Ekici), who has a clear vision for his future, and a foreman (Tansel Öngel), who just wants to complete the job early so he can seize another profitable opportunity.

Mavi Bisiklet (Blue Bicycle)

(Directed by Ümit Köreken, Turkey, 2016, 94 min., in Turkish with English subtitles)

*Includes a Q&A with guests.

Saturday, October 14, at 7:30 p.m.

This acclaimed feature debut concentrates on 12-year-old Ali (Selim Kaya), who recognizes injustice when he sees it. When his dad is killed in a work accident, the farm blames the father. But Ali and his mother know otherwise and they have sued in court, determined to see justice done. Meanwhile, to help make ends meet, Ali works in a village repair shop, putting the tips aside to buy his dream bicycle. While this is happening, his school flame, Elif (Bahriye Arin), president of student council, is supposed to represent the group at an event in the city, but she is passed over by the principal in favor of a boy from a more prominent family. Together with his best friend Yusuf (Eray Kilicarslan), Ali starts a campaign to support Elif; his dream of owning the blue bike will have to wait.

The Turkish Way

(Directed by Luis González, Spain, 2016, 86 min., in Catalan, Spanish, French, English, and Turkish with English subtitles)

Sunday, October 15, at 5 p.m.

The Roca Brothers-Joan, Josep, and Jordi-owners of the restaurant Catalonia's Celler de Can Roca, current holder of Restaurant Magazine's "Best Restaurant in the World" honor, take a five-week tour across Turkey, diving into the rich, diverse culinary cultures of one of the world's major crossroads. From Arabic, Asian, and European influences to the exciting recent development of New Anatolian Cuisine, the Roca brothers embrace an ancient nation on the cusp of a food revolution.

Annemin Yarasi (My Mother's Wound)

(Directed by Ozan Açiktan, Turkey/Bosnia and Herzegovina/Serbia and Montenegro, 2016, 125 min., in Turkish with English subtitles)

Sunday, October 15, at 7 p.m.

Based on a true story, this gripping tale of family, love, and identity follows Salih (Bora Akka?) as he sets out to find hope amongst war-torn lives. Upon turning 18, Salih leaves the orphanage where he has grown up after being left there during the Bosnian war. He begins a journey to learn about what really happened to his family. Salih takes a job on a Serbian farm where his quest for the truth uncovers a dark past that leads to betrayal.

Location The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Caroline Wiess Law Building / Brown Auditorium Theater

1001 Bissonnet Street

Admission Admission to screenings is $10 for the general public, and $8 for MFAH members, students with ID, and senior adults. Visit www.mfah.org/films for more information or to purchase advance tickets.

Film Buffs is the Museum's patron group for movie lovers. Visit www.mfah.org/filmbuffs or call 713.639.7550 for more information.

Funding Generous funding is provided by the American Turkish Association of Houston and Catherine and Cenk Ozdogan.

Special thanks to the Consulate General of Turkey in Houston.

The MFAH film department is supported by Tenaris; the Vaughn Foundation; Franci Neely; Nina and Michael Zilkha; American Turkish Association-Houston; Lynn S. Wyatt; James V. Derrick; ILEX Foundation; and L'Alliance Française de Houston.

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