Turkey: Kurdish director decries censorship in film festival

Turkey: Kurdish director decries censorship in film festival
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Update: 14 September 2022 19:25
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The renowned director Kazim Oz said his latest film “The Lifespan of a Snowflake” was rejected by the pre-selection committee of International Adana Film Festival

A Kurdish director fumed at a film festival held in Turkey’s southern city of Adana, saying that the sixth film he sent for projection was yet again rejected without any explanation, Rudaw reported

Kazim Oz, the renowned director of films like "Bahoz" and "Zer" said his latest film “The Lifespan of a Snowflake” was rejected by the pre-selection committee of International Adana Film Festival, which began on Monday, like all other films he sent in the previous years 

“There is a veiled censorship and it is very difficult to prove,” Oz said, adding that his films were rewarded in festivals around the world but were rejected in Turkish festivals. 

“Many of my colleagues who make political movies also experience the same treatment,” Oz said.

Kazim Oz, who has been making films since 1992 as an actor, playwright and director often sees his films censored and banned by the Ministry of Culture.

In November 2018 he got detained by the Turkish authorities and charged with membership in an illegal organization, but released after two days. Prosecution seeks a sentence between seven and a half and fifteen years for Oz, who has since left Turkey.