Selected both for national and international feature competitions of the 9th Bosphorus Film Festival, crew members of “The Hoop” met with the audience after the screening of the film at Atlas 1948 Cinema on Sunday, October 24.  A Q&A session took place under the moderation of film critic and scriptwriter Burak Göral with the participation of the film’s director and scriptwriter Ahmet Toklu, casts Bahar Hacıbektaşoğlu, Mert Erdoğdu, Alp Akar and other crew members.

The film, which will also be competing for “the Best Debut” award given with the contributions of Akli Film for the first time this year at Bosphorus Film Festival, gained lots of attention. The first speaker was the director of the film Ahmet Toklu. He said that the idea of the film came up with the making of a hoop, that he himself experienced something similar in his childhood and made their own hoop with his friends. After being asked about his inspirations, he replied that “There were many mind-boggling aspects. The Hoop takes place in an era where rural-urban migration was very intense, and at the same time there was an increase in concretion. Those who grew up in the same town, melted in the same hoop and learned to live together.”

The child actors said that the script allowed them to understand the immense differences of being a kid in the 90’s compared to today. They said they worked extremely hard for the basketball scenes and together with the character, they were able to improve themselves. They concluded by saying if their childhood took place in those years, they would have had lots of difficulties.

One of the leading casts, Bahar Hacıbektaşoğlu quoted that “We were able to re-live those days because the film was set in the 90's, we were able to understand what it was like to be a mother back then,” and added that houses during the era along with the hoop is a symbol of hope. The successful actress also pointed out that because the film was about children it was emotionally very effective and concluded by saying that she wished this film would succeed in encouraging other childrens’ films.

Having its world premiere at the 51^st Giffoni Film Festival, winning the Social Sight award for the Best Film at the 21^st Cerdanya Film Festival and co-produced by TRT, The Hoop is about a group of kids living in a poor neighborhood who wish to accomplish their dreams and the difficulties of childhood in the 90’s.

With the contribution of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism Cinema General Directorate, official partnership of TRT, support of Global Communications Partner Anadolu Agency, official hosting

of Beyoğlu Municipality and organized by the Bosphorus Culture and Arts Foundation, the 9^th Bosphorus Film Festival will be hosting significant names in the sector along with internationally acclaimed cinema porfessionals in Istanbul. Details and inquires on films, events and screenings could be reached on www.bogazicifilmfestivali.com and on social media accounts.

Monday October 25 Festival Program

On the third day of the 9th Bosphorus Film Festival, film screenings for the National Feature Competition and International Feature Competition will be held.

Screenings at Atlas 1948 Cinema will be Muhammet Çakıral’s “Dark Blue Night” at 1 p.m., Erkan Tahhuşoğlu’s “Corridor” at 4p.m., Sinan Sertel’s “The Hero In Me” at 6:30 p.m. and Emre Kayiş’s “Anatolian Leopard” at 9 p.m. sessions.

At Kadıköy Cinema, cinemagoers will be able to watch Cristina Grosan’s “Things Worth Weeping For” at 1.pm., Han Shuai’s “Summer Blur” at 4 p.m., Aydın Orak’s “Time of Impatience” at 6:30 p.m. and Ahmet Toklu’s “The Hoop” at 9 p.m. sessions.

Within the scope of Bosphorus Film Lab Talks, the event “Making The First Feature” will take place with the director of the film Snow and the Bear, Selcen Ergun and its producer Nefes Polat on Monday, October 25. The event will be held at Akademi Beyoğlu Conference Hall starting at 3:30 p.m. with the director Selcen Ergun and the producer Nefes Polat of the film sharing a debut film’s production process and their experiences.

Tickets Are On Mobilet!

Screenings of the 7-day Bosphorus Film Festival will be held physically at Atlas 1948 and Kadıköy cinemas.

Festival tickets for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. screenings are 10 TL, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. screenings are 15 TL. Short film screenings are 5 TL. Tickets could be purchased on mobilet.com or at the box office at Atlas 1948 and Kadıköy cinemas during the festival.

Important Notice on Covid-19 Restrictions

As of September 6, 2021 Monday entries into events including concerts, cinemas, theaters, and crowded events will require a negative PCR test taken 48 hours prior to the event for persons who are unvaccinated. Managers/organizers will be required to examine HES code for vaccination/contracted disease (scientifically accepted post-Covid­19 immunity period) or a negative PCR test taken 48 hours prior to the event at the entrance. According to the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health regulations, persons who have completed their final vaccinations in accordance with the vaccine schedule could attend events as of the 14^th day of their final vaccination without taking a PCR test, those who have had Covid-19 could attend events in the following 180 days after their isolation process has ended without taking a PCR test. Those who have not had Covid-19 or vaccinations or a negative PCR test will not be allowed to participate in events.