Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, which was planned to be held for the 60th time between 7-14 October, was cancelled. The decision came during the crisis agenda regarding the documentary ‘Law Rule’, one of the films of the National Documentary Competition and directed by Nejla Demirci.
The documentary film titled ‘The Rule of Law’, was removed from the competition by the festival committee In the crisis that started together, after the jury members, the directors also withdrew from the festival.
Finally, the jury president of the festival Demet Akbağ resigned, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Youth and Sports withdrew their support for the festival, This caused the incident to escalate further. Today, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek announced that the festival has been cancelled.
Chaos regarding the movie ‘Law Rule’ chronologically let’s see…
In fact, it all started when Nejla Demirci’s documentary film ‘Law Rule’ was excluded from the competition by the festival committee.
After the film was removed from the competition, the jury members criticized this attitude. “censor” and they declared that they would return to their duties on the condition that the ‘Provision of Law’ was reinstated in the competition.
Demet Akbağ, Ayşegül Aldinç, Onur Saylak, Özcan Alper, Mehmet Günsür, Ali Ağa, Sema Kaygusuz, Behiç Ak, Zeynep Dadak, Deniz Tortum, Elif Refiğ, Hazar Ergüçlü, Paolo Bertolin, Ali Ercivan, Hakan Bıçakçı, Anna Maria Aslanoğlu, Ezel Akay, Engin Palabıyık, Senem Erdine and Ahmet Gürata made a joint statement:
“At our country’s most established film festival, Nejla Demirci’s documentary ‘Law Provision’ was suddenly removed from the competition program. We received it with surprise and sadness.
In the movies This look and censorship that looks for criminal elements We do not accept the normalization of sanctions. The Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, which has been going on for years, belongs to the society by broad consensus. Democratic principles, freedom of expression cannot compromise. In this context, it is vital that it continues to be a safe space for artists. As jury members, we consider it our duty to stand side by side with our colleagues.
As the undersigned jury members, we hereby declare our duty at the 60th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival to include the movie ‘Law Rule’ in the Documentary Competition selection. with the withdrawal We announce to the public that we can fulfill it.”
So, why was the ‘Provision of Law’ found objectionable? Let’s clarify this first.
Allegedly, under the ‘Law’ Propaganda of the FETO terrorist organization was being made through the perception of victimization. Allegations of discrediting July 15 and using art as an element of provocation were also among the reasons why the documentary ‘Law Rule’ was deemed objectionable.
Now we can continue the chaos from where we left off… After the rejection of the jury members of the festival, the directors whose films were to compete also withdrew from the festival.
Twenty-seven of the twenty-eight directors whose films were selected for competitions made a joint statement. director Zeki Demirkubuz made an independent statement and “I just didn’t feel like signing the declaration, that’s the point.” said.
Following these developments, the question “Will Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival take place?” when there is a question Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek, They made a statement saying that they would hold the festival.
“As has been the case for the last 4 years, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality undertakes the sole and exclusive hosting duty throughout the festival period to ensure that films and dreams grow. This hosting is part of the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, an international festival. independence and free structure is of critical importance.
With our national and international activities; As in every field we work, we keep our promise to Antalya and moviegoers. We will always support the efforts of cinema workers.
As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our festival on the 100th anniversary of our Republic We will continue to work with the same determination and determination to take the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival even further..”
The director of Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Ahmet Boyacıoğlu, also made a statement and stated that ‘The Provision of Law’ was withdrawn from the competition. But…
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, one of the supporters of the festival, reacted to the film’s inclusion in the selection again and withdrew it from the festival. The Ministry made the following statement:
“In such an important festival, the power of art is used to address the perception of victimization. FETO terrorist organization propaganda It is extremely sad that this was done.
“Our Ministry, our beloved nation Discrediting his epic struggle on July 15, using art as an element of provocation will not be part of the effort. For this reason, we have withdrawn from the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.”
After the Ministry of Culture and Tourism withdrew from the festival, the Ministry of Youth and Sports also withdrew its support from the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.
Ministry, “At the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, in the documentary titled ‘Law Provision’ in the documentary competition section, we focused on the perception of victimization. FETO terrorist organization propaganda “We have withdrawn our support from the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival due to its being held.” he said.
Boyacıoğlu’s documentary ‘The Rule of Law’ was removed from the festival again. Demet Akbağ reacted to this situation and resigned as the jury president of the National Feature Film Competition.
Akbağ, in his post on his social media account, said: “Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival – National Feature Film Competition, which I accepted to talk about cinema and be in touch with cinema for a week. “I am leaving my duty as jury president.” made the statement.
Nejla Demirci, director of the documentary ‘Law Provision’, also reacted to the statements made by the ministries:
Demirci asked the relevant institutions and the ministers who made the statement to watch the documentary…
60th Golden Orange Film Festival canceled
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek announced on X (Twitter) that the festival was canceled. Böcek used the following statements in his statement:
“Dear movie lovers, my dear fellow citizens;
As Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, I regret to inform all movie lovers that we have canceled the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, which we have restored to its essence, which has defied the years, which is one of the most important brands of Antalya and our country, and which we planned to hold between 7-14 October, due to the process that was created outside of us. . I return all the accusations made against me and our municipality based on the film to their real addressees.
Best regards to the public.“
These are the latest developments regarding the documentary ‘Law Rule’, which left its mark on the canceled Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.
Let’s see what will happen in the coming days?