SONBAHAR / AUTUMN

2008, 106 minutes, 35mm, color;
Turkish with English subtitles

Written and directed by Özcan Alper
Cinematography by Canan Çayir
Produced by F.Serkan Acar
Featuring Onur Saylak, Raife Yenigül, Megi Kobaladze, Serkan Keskin, Nino Lejava, Sibel Öz, Cihan Camkerten, Serhan Pirpir, Yasar Güven

Yusuf is a 22-year-old college student, just released from prison and headed to his frail mother’s small shack located in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. Lonely and dejected, Yusuf’s childhood friend Mikail is the only person he reconnects with until he meets Eka, a Georgian prostitute lost in the dreams of a socialist utopia. Though neither the circumstances nor time is right, a love affair with Eka is Yusuf’s best escape from loneliness. Set against the post 90s modern realities and urban dysfunction, Özcan Alper’s directorial debut is a highly recommended do-not-miss psychological drama.

FESTIVALS - AWARDS

2008    Adana Golden Boll Film Festival, Best Film, Best Supporting Female Actor (Megi Kobaladze), Special Jury Prize (Turkey)
2008   Locarno Film Festival, The Art and Essay Cicae Prize (Switzerland)
SIYAD (Turkish Film Critics’ Association) Awards, Turkey: Best Film, Best Script, Best Director, Best Cinematography (Feza Çaldıran), Best Actor (Onur Saylak)
2008    Eurasia Film Festival, Antalya: Netpac Jury Award (Turkey)
2008    Tbilisi Film Festival, Silver Prometheus Award (Georgia)
2008    Plans Angers European First Film Festival, Soundtrack Award (France)
2008    Festival on Wheels: Silver Goose and Critics’ Awards (Turkey)
2008    Montreal World Film Festival (Canada)

ÖZCAN ALPER

Born in 1975 in the small town of Artvin in northeastern Turkey, Özcan Alper studied 
Physics and the History of Science at Istanbul University. His interest in cinema drew him to a professional career in filmmaking which started in 1999. His first short film, Momi, was the first film ever to be shot in the Hemsin language. That film went on to win a number of awards. Sonbahar (Autumn), Alper's first feature film, was produced with the support of Turkey’s Culture Ministry.

FILMOGRAPHY

2008    Sonbahar/Autumn

2001    Momi