National Competition Excitement Begins at the 63rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival

The national film competition, held as part of the 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, one of Turkey's long-standing cinema events, began with the audience meeting the films "Tatlı Maya," directed by Biket İlhan, and "Taş ve Tüy," directed by Ragıp Türk.

"Tatlı Maya," directed by Biket İlhan and written by Nazlı Pınar Ünlü and Nihan Belgin, held its world premiere at the festival. The film, which explores themes of migration and intolerance, focuses on the stories of different characters living in a small town. In the post-screening talk, actress Suna Yıldızoğlu drew attention to negative discourse on social media and shared her observations regarding the culture of hospitality in Turkey.

"Taş ve Tüy," the debut feature film by Ragıp Türk, had its first screening in Turkey. The film centers on Nazire, a victim of domestic violence, and her struggle to reunite with her son after being released from prison, while also depicting the fight against poverty in Istanbul's forgotten neighborhoods. Assessment: While critics found the film's screenplay and direction of actors successful, they noted technical deficiencies regarding sound clarity in some scenes.