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The 37th Ankara Film Festival opened in Türkiye's capital with an awards ceremony honoring prominent figures from cinema and music, including actress Demet Akbag, musician Bulent Ortacgil and film critic Atilla Dorsay.
Organized by the World Mass Media Research Foundation, the festival kicked off at the Kocatepe Cultural Center, with Nefise Karatay hosting the opening ceremony.
Akbag received the Aziz Nesin Labor Award for her contributions to the performing arts, while Ortacgil was presented with the Art Sycamore Award, recognizing his longstanding artistic career. Dorsay received the Mass Communication Award, and actors Bige Onal and Boran Kuzum were honored with the Foundation Special Award.
Festival Director Irfan Demirkol said the event would bring together carefully selected films from Turkish and international cinema, with competing productions chosen by preliminary juries made up of academics, film critics and industry professionals.
Demirkol also emphasized the festival's independent character and thanked the organizations, jury members and staff involved in putting together this year's program.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) after receiving his award, Dorsay said the recognition carried particular significance because of his longstanding connection to Ankara and its cultural history.
Reflecting on the state of Turkish cinema, he expressed concern over declining audience interest and suggested that the industry had experienced stronger periods in the past.
However, Dorsay encouraged filmmakers to remain optimistic and focus on developing better screenplays while working with talented directors and actors.
He also pointed to Turkish cinema's international recognition, including its presence at major film festivals and the Academy Awards, expressing confidence that further achievements would follow.
Calling cinema the seventh art, Dorsay urged audiences to embrace it as a medium that brings together other artistic disciplines.
Receiving the Aziz Nesin Labor Award, Akbag recalled dreaming of becoming a performer since childhood and expressed gratitude for the recognition despite having been away from the big screen for some time.
"This award came at just the right time for me," she said, thanking the directors, fellow actors, writers, production teams and audiences who had supported her career.
Ortacgil, meanwhile, reflected on his decades in music, saying that a song he wrote approximately 50 years ago still helped him make a living.
He expressed appreciation for the people, places and experiences that had shaped his artistic identity.
Bige Onal, who received the Foundation Special Award, said she hoped to continue working in independent cinema and expressed confidence in the future of Turkish filmmaking.
She dedicated her award to film crew members working behind the camera, recognizing their contributions to the industry.
Fellow recipient Boran Kuzum could not attend because of health problems but addressed the ceremony through a video message, saying the award held special meaning for him as a native of Ankara.
The opening event concluded with a musical performance by singer and actress Zuhal Olcay.
The 37th Ankara Film Festival will continue through Nov. 20, featuring film screenings and other events.
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