The 15th Boston Turkish Film Festival once again brings modern Turkish films and directors together with an American audience from March 17 to April 3. The festival kicks off with Tolga Karaçelik's "Sarmaşık" (Ivy), which was highly praised and awarded at this year's prestigious Golden Orange Film Festival.

A total of 21 films will be screened during the festival, nine of which will premiere in North America.

Accomplished Turkish directors, such as Tolga Karaçelik, Çağan Irmak, Zeki Demirkubuz, Ben Hopkins, Mustafa Kara, Faruk Hacıhafızoğlu and Şerif Yenen, will participate in the program. The directors will take part in discussions after the screenings.

The program includes director Çağan Irmak's "Dedemin İnsanları" (My Grandfather's people), Nermin Er and İsmet Kurtuluş's "Rimolar ve Zimolar: Kasabada Barış" (Rimos and Zimos: Peace in Town), Ali Atay's "Limonata" (Lemonade), Cem Kaya's "Motör," Ben Hopkins's "Hasret" (Yearning), Mert Baykal's "Kardeşim Benim" (Brother), Emine Emel Balcı's "Nefesim Kesilene Kadar" (Until I Lose My Breath), Zeki Demirkubuz's "Bulantı" (Nausea), Mustafa Kara's "Kalandar Soğuğu" (Cold of Kalandar), Senem Tüzen's "Ana Yurdu" (Motherland), Faruk Hacıhafızoğlu's "Kar Korsanları" (Snow Pirates), Şerif Yenen and Levent Ayaşlı's "İstanbul Unveiled" and Emin Alper's "Abluka" (Frenzy).

During the festival, director Çağan Irmak will receive the Excellence Award in Turkish Cinema. Documentary and short film categories will be announced and awarded during the festival.