The Istanbul Film Festival, which was initiated by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) as a cinema week in 1982, celebrates its 35th anniversary from April 7-17. Sponsored by Akbank for the 12th time, the 35th Istanbul Film Festival offers a rich program to movie buffs, from recent examples of the silver screen to cult productions, classics, masterpieces, new discoveries, hidden treasures and trademark films. The festival program consists of 187 feature-length films, 10 short films and 24 experimental productions. Apart from the screenings of 221 films of 223 directors from 62 countries around the world, which will be featured under a total of 25 different sections, the festival offers cinema-filled days with panel sessions overseen by guest filmmakers, cinema classes, concerts and exclusive events.Cinema Honorary AwardsThe Istanbul Film Festival will grant Cinema Honorary Awards to five highly-esteemed artists who have devoted their lives to cinema. Suzan Avcı, "The most adored female villain" of Yeşilçam (a classic producer of Turkish films); Ülkü Erakalın, one of the most productive directors of Yeşilçam with nearly 200 films; Şeref Gür, the producer of the prominent films of Yeşilçam including "Vurun Kahpeye" (Strike the Whore) and "Vesikalı Yarim" (My Prostitute Love); Perran Kutman, the actress who has been able to make many generations laugh with her characters for the last 50 years; and voice actress Jeyan Ayral Tözüm who left her mark as the voice of various actresses in Yeşilçam films. Türkan Şoray, Filiz Akın and Fatma Girik will receive Cinema Honorary Awards at the opening ceremony of the 35th Istanbul Film Festival, which will take place on Apr. 6 at the Haliç Congress Center. Director Atıf Yılmaz's "İki Gemi Yanyana" (Two Ships, Side by Side)" starring Suzan Avcı, director Ülkü Erakalın's "Gözlerin Ömre Bedel" (Your Eyes Worth A Lifetime) and actor / director Kartal Tibert's "Gırgıriye" starring Perran Kutman, will be screened as a part of the festival.Competition Thrill in the festivalFor the first time this year, the competition will kick off on the first day of the Istanbul Film Festival. Throughout the festival the winners for national and international Golden Tulip, FACE Human Rights in Cinema, National Documentary and National Short Film awards, as the winner of the Audentia Award, which will be the first cinema award in the world to be given to draw attention to inequality of women and men, will receive their awards.INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN TULIP COMPETITIONTo win the grand prize of the Istanbul Film Festival, the Golden Tulip, films that bring a new approach to cinema will compete in the international section. As a part of the 35th Istanbul Film Festival, the Golden Tulip International Competition features 15 films from 14 countries. The International Golden Tulip jury is composed of actors Melisa Sözen and Lior Ashkenazy, video artist Ali Kazma, producer Ewa Puszczyńska and chaired by director Pablo Trapero.Here are the films competing in The Golden Tulip / International Competition: