Having won 15 awards from festivals at home and abroad, "Purple Horizons" returned from Pakistan and Italy with awards recently. Written and directed by Olgun Özdemir, "Purple Horizons" tells the survival efforts of a young girl called Meryem who lost all of her family members in the Aegean Sea as their boat sank while trying to escape from the war in Syria. Produced by Osman Subaşı, the film was nominated for the first prize in different branches in Pakistan and Italy. It won the Best Film award at the Eighth LUMS International Film Festival in Pakistan and Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay awards at the Milan International Filmmaker Festival.
MISSION COMPLETED
Producer Subaşı told Anadolu Agency (AA) that he is proud of being the citizen of such a nation that gives a hand to everyone who is in need of help regardless of religion, language or race.
Implying the existence of Turkey will continue to be hope for all the oppressed in the world, Subaşı said they wanted to reflect the problems of the refugees to the world through the movie.
After noting that the name of the film is also very meaningful like its content, he added, "A lot of boats have sunk in the Mediterranean Sea in the last five years and so many people have lost their lives that the sea has become a cemetery. Since we think the blueness of the sea turned into purple, we named the film 'Purple Horizons.'"
"We wanted to highlight and show the devotion of Turkey in the matter of refugees. We reached this aim. The film bagged 15 awards from various national and international festivals. We didn't shoot this film to win awards. The only aim was to be the voice of refugees. However, these awards motivated us to produce much better work. I want to congratulate the crew," said the producer.
Subaşı reported that the cinema world showed concern for the refugees and this makes them happy. Noting the film will debut in April in Turkey and Europe simultaneously after competing at the BFI London Film Festival in February, Subaşı continued, "Turkish people live together with Syrians within the context of brotherhood. When it debuts in Turkey, I believe it will be given the due consideration."
STRIKING STORY OF MERYEM
Featuring Zeynep Sevil Yılmaz, Numan Çakır, Ece Özdikici, Dilek Serbest, Adem Yılmaz and Baki Çiftçi, the film focuses on the trauma of Syrian Meryem, 25, who runs away from Aleppo. Meryem escapes from the refugee boat, which sank near Kos Island, and tries to survive in the Bozdoğan district of Aydın province in Turkey.