CONTEMPORARY TURKISH CINEMA

Neredesin Firuze? / Where's Firuze?
**** SOLD OUT ****

2004, 135 minutes; 35 mm, color;
Turkish with English subtitles

Monday, October 11, 8:00 PM
Tickets: $10 (Adults), $6 (Students/Members/Seniors with valid ID)

Directed by Ezel Akay
Screenplay by Levent Kazak
Cinematography by Hayk Kirakosyan
Edited by Mustafa Preşeva
Music by Sunay Özgür and Ender Akay
Produced by Ezel Akay and Yonca Ertürk, IFR, Cinemedya A.Ş.
Featuring Haluk Bilginer, Özcan Deniz, Demet Akbağ, Cem Özer, Şebnem Dönmez, Ruhi Sarı, Ata Demirer, Janset

Neredesin Firuze? (Where's Firuze?) is an unconventional film about the music industry with a surreal, even fantastic, mood and approach. Hayri and Orhan are two music producers who are deeply in debt because of the unsuccessful music cassettes they have marketed. The twosome, distraught with the pressure from creditors and attorneys, get in touch with Ferhat, who lives in Germany and supposedly has a great voice. Ferhat, who is obsessed with the thought of becoming a singer, immediately comes to Istanbul and enters the studio the next day. He also makes a television appearance and fascinates both the audience in the studio and those watching him on the screen. The next day, a mysterious woman named Firuze pays them a visit at the office and says she would like to invest in Ferhat's career.

Festivals and Awards

2004 International Istanbul Film Festival (Turkey)
2005 Sadri Alışık Award (Turkey): Best Actress in Film (Demet Akbağ), Best Actor           in Film (Haluk Bilginer)

From Atilla Dorsay

The Woman That Came and Went Like a Dream
Neredesin Firuze? / Where's Firuze?

You either get involved in a movie like this, or you don't. While I was watching it, I accepted its humor, logic and aesthetic, and I definitely advise those who share my willingness to see it. This film touches base with an important facet of Turkey and its pop-culture: the music industry that surrounds İMÇ and tries to introduce new artists to the market nearly every day. Neredesin Firuze? (Where's Firuze?) is infused with fresh humor - sometimes absurd, often like a musical with its own choreography, songs and ballads and always full of life and energy. The film is very successful in all things visual - the decor, the costumes and especially the colors. Characters decked out in fantastic hues and exaggerated jewelry are the successful product of an art director who is capable of creating satire with nothing more than the intelligent use of color. Another special characteristic of the movie is the way it keeps its distance from and pokes fun at Turkish pop and arabesque music, while still taking advantage of its better products. The soundtrack gives you the immediate urge to buy a copy of your own. One of the most important components of the film is the cast, whom I adored. Haluk Bilginer, Özcan Deniz, Cem Özer, Ruhi Sarı and Ragıp Savaş work wonderfully together. Demet Akbağ gives an incredible performance as the mysterious woman that comes and goes like a dream. But all the supporting roles and guest appearances are great as well. Ezel Akay has hit the nail on the head in terms of good rhythm and lively humor with his first film. If you don't have any objections to Turkish pop-films or to pop-culture in general, I would say don't miss this opportunity to laugh and enjoy yourselves.

2004 (Excerpt)

Contact Information IFR Productions Alt Zeren Sokak No: 1 34330 Levent, İstanbul, Turkey Tel: 90 212 324 76 24 Fax: 90 212 324 76 36 E-mail: ifr@ifr-productions.com Contact: Serkan Çakarer