AFM International Independent Film Festival
Encyclopedia
AFM International Independent Film Festival, more commonly known as !f Istanbul is an annual, international film festival
dedicated to independent film
s from all around the world. The festival is held each year in mid-February at AFM Theaters, hence its name, in Istanbul
, Turkey
, with a partial showcase in Ankara
.
It is the only film festival in Turkey
with an LGBT
section.
A competitive section called "Keş!f" in Turkish and "!f Inspired" in English is included for the first time in 2008. Ten international films will be competing in the section, and the international jury will be consisting of Reha Erdem
, Christophe Leparc, John Cameron Mitchell
, Wendy Mitchell, and Perry Ogden.
In 2008, around 70 films will be shown in the festival under following sections:
Several festival-related activities such as workshops, interviews, symposiums, exhibitions, etc. with directors, NGOs, and scholars are held during the festival.
!f Istanbul also organizes several parties during the festival including the opening and closing parties. In 2008, the opening party will feature Joy Division
ex-bassist and co-founder Peter Hook
, and the closing party will feature the Iceland
ic band múm
.
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
dedicated to independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
s from all around the world. The festival is held each year in mid-February at AFM Theaters, hence its name, in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, with a partial showcase in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
.
It is the only film festival in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
with an LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
section.
Program
Each year, the films are presented in several thematic sections.A competitive section called "Keş!f" in Turkish and "!f Inspired" in English is included for the first time in 2008. Ten international films will be competing in the section, and the international jury will be consisting of Reha Erdem
Reha Erdem
Reha Erdem is an award-winning Turkish film director and screenwriter.-Biography:He attended Galatasaray High School and he studied history at Boğaziçi University before leaving to study film in 1983. He obtained a B.A. in Cinema Studies and an M.A...
, Christophe Leparc, John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell is an American writer, actor, and director. He is best known for his motion pictures Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus and Rabbit Hole.- Early life:...
, Wendy Mitchell, and Perry Ogden.
In 2008, around 70 films will be shown in the festival under following sections:
- !f Inspired / Keş!f
- Hit Films / Hit Filmler
- Mexican Wave / Meksika Dalgası
- Life in Sound / Sesli Yaflam
- Fantastic Films / Fantastik Filmler
- Rainbow Films / Gökkuşağı
- The Planet, The People / Gezegen, İnsan
- Warped Love / Başka Aşk
- The Art of Living / Yaşama Sanatı
- !f Junior / !f Çocuk
- Insomnia / Nöbetçi Sinema
- !f Shorts / !f Kısalar
- Special Screening / Özel Gösterim
Several festival-related activities such as workshops, interviews, symposiums, exhibitions, etc. with directors, NGOs, and scholars are held during the festival.
!f Istanbul also organizes several parties during the festival including the opening and closing parties. In 2008, the opening party will feature Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
ex-bassist and co-founder Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
, and the closing party will feature the Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic band múm
Múm
múm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
.