Francophone Film Days start in four cities

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Nine feature films will be screened in four cities in Türkiye with Turkish subtitles in the Francophone Film Days organized with the cooperation of Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, and Switzerland Embassies, and Alliance Française Bursa.

The films will be screened between March 10-26 in the İstanbul and İzmir branches of the Institut Français Türkiye, in Büyülü Fener in Ankara, and in Çeksanat in Bursa.

The festival will present two young talented film directors, especially women: Leyla Bouzid, Luàna Bajrami, Julie Lecoustre, and Erige Sehiri. Women characters are usually at the center of the story. This new generation of filmmakers will be next to the Dardenne brothers of Belgium.

The Francophone Film Days presents an opportunity to see films that were among those awarded or screened in the most important international festivals. Zero Fucks Given screened in Cannes and then awarded at MyFrenchFilmFestival in February 2023. Tori and Lokita received the 75th Year Award at Cannes in 2022, while Olga received the Switzerland Oscar last year.

Audio-visual cooperation attache of France Florent Signifredi presents the film days calling it, "The best Francophone cinema and the films of most talented young directors."

The films

The Hill Where Lionesses Roar, Luàna Bajrami
2021 | 83'

The film focuses on three young and free-spirited young women. They want to escape their daily lives, make money and get rid of the burdens of life and they form a gang. The film is in Albenian with Turkish subtitles.

Goodbye Happiness, Ken Scott
2021 | 106'

The film centers on Nicolas, Thomas, Charles-Alexandre, and William, four brothers who do not get along but are attempting to set aside their differences at their father's funeral. The film is in Fransızca, with Turkish subtitles.

Under the Fig Trees, Erige Sehiri
2022 | 92'

Among the trees, young women and men working the summer harvest develop new feelings, flirt, try to understand each other, and find deeper connections. The film is in Arabic, with Turkish subtitles.

Olga, Elie Grappe
2022 | 87'

Olga focuses on the life of a young gymnast girl. 15-year old Olga living in Switzerland away from her country Ukraine is a talented gymnast. The Euromaidan revolt breaks out in Kiev, affecting her life deeply. The film is in French, Russian, and Ukrainian, with Turkish subtitles.

Zero Fucks Given, Emmanuel Marre & Julie Lecoustre
2022 | 110'

A young flight attendant loses her job at a low-cost airline. The film is in French, with Turkish subtitles.

Tori and Lokita, Luc Dardenne &Jean-Pierre Dardenne
2022 | 88'

In Belgium today, a young boy and an adolescent girl who have travelled alone from Africa pit their invincible friendship against the cruel conditions of their exile. The film that received the 75th Year Award at Cannes in 2022 is in French, with Turkish subtitles.

The Way to Happiness, Nicolas Steil
2022 | 100'

Saul Birnbaum was a hidden child' torn away from his parents by the Kindertransport at six years old and shipped from Vienna to Brussels. In 1986, Saul is now on the path to resilience, reinventing his life. He has opened a one-of-a-kind deli where the art of cinema truly takes center stage. The film is in French, English, with Turkish subtitles.

Casablanca Beats, Nabil Ayouch
2021 | 101'

Anas, a former rapper, is employed in a cultural center. Encouraged by their new teacher, the students will try to free themselves from the weight of traditions to live their passion and express themselves through hip hop culture The film is in Arabic, with Turkish subtitles.

A tale of love and desire, Leyla Bouzid
2021 | 102'

Follows Ahmed, a 18-year old, French of Algerian origin, who meets Farah, a young Tunisian girl. He discovers a collection of sensual and erotic Arab literature and falls in love with Farah and he tries to resist the desire. The film is in French, with Turkish subtitles.

For a detailed program please click.
(EMK/PE)