Crime and Punishment Film Festival returns with the theme ‘discrimination'

The fifth edition of the International Crime and Punishment Film Festival will begin on Friday this week with the theme "Ayr/mc/l/k" (Discrimination). Running until Oct. 22, the festival supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will open with a gala screening of "Alias Maria" at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall (CRR) on Oct. 15. Throughout the festival, 47 films including 30 feature-length films from 23 countries, seven documentaries and 10 short films will be screened. Emin Alper's "Abluka" (Frenzy), which won the Special Jury Award at the Venice Film Festival and the Golden Boll award at the 22nd Adana International Golden Boll Film Festival, is included in the festival program.

Other festival films include "Bir Tanem" (My One and Only), "Duruş" (Stance), "Emanet Kimlik" (Dancing Arabs), "Kar Korsanları" (Snow Pirates), "Neden Ben?" (Why Me?), "Son Cellat" (The Last Executioner), "Suçlu" (Guilty), "Üç Pencere Bir Ölüm" (Three Windows and a Hanging) and "Yasa" (Law). Festival films will be on screen at Beyoğlu's Atlas Movie Theater and Caddebostan Cultural Center in Kadıköy. The documentary section will be screened at Atlas Movie Theater on Oct. 19. Concurrently with the festival, 15 panel sessions will take place with the participation of lecturers, movie makers, directors, critics and members of NGOs and public institutions. The festival's "International Golden Scales Film Competition" will announce the winner on Oct. 20 at Atlas Movie Theater with an award ceremony.

Speaking during the festival's launch meeting, Professor Adem Sözüer said the festival aims to eliminate discrimination. The festival has invited researchers from different countries. "We are expecting members of different institutions including international researchers studying Islamphobia," he continued. In previous editions, the film festival focused on refugees, sexual discrimination and children pushed to crime. Professor Bengi Semerci, the coordinator of film programs, recalled that following their meetings, the festival committee decided that cinema would be an ideal tool to voice their worldwide concerns. "Although cinema includes fiction, it reflects what is happening in societies," Semerci said.