The 61st International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival came to a triumphant close on October 12, showcasing the best of Turkish cinema with a spectacular awards ceremony at the Cam Piramit Fair and Congress Center. This year’s festival spotlighted Nadim Güç’s Mukadderat, which clinched the coveted Best Film Award in the National Feature Film Competition, reaffirming its status as a hallmark of excellence in the industry.
The event, elegantly hosted by actress Şebnem Dönmez, began with a vibrant concert by actor-musician Taner Ölmez, setting a celebratory tone for the evening. Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek delivered a passionate speech, underscoring the significant impact of cinema on society. He proudly declared the festival as one of Antalya’s premier cultural brands and shared exciting news for the film industry: the festival will now cover copyright fees for all films screened, marking a historic first for Turkey’s cinema landscape. “This is a significant step for the film sector,” Böcek stated, extending his best wishes to cinema workers.
As the night progressed, numerous awards were presented, highlighting the diverse talent within the Turkish film community. The Cahide Sonku Award for Best Costume Design went to Yağmur Ergül for her work on Gülizar, while Ümit Ünal won the Best Screenplay Award for Evcilik. The Best Music Award was shared by Serkan Polat, Özgür Alper, and Pınar Bayrak for their evocative score in Balinanın Bilgisi, and Melike Kasaplar was honored with the Best Editing Award for her outstanding work on Fidan. Additionally, Meral Aktan received the Best Art Direction Award for Gülizar.
In the acting categories, Ayça Bingöl was celebrated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Fidan, while Osman Sonat took home the Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in Mukadderat. The Best Actress Award was uniquely shared between Binnur Kaya for her compelling portrayal in Ayşe and Nur Sürer for her performance in Mukadderat. Kaya dedicated her award to all women who devote their lives to their loved ones, while Sürer paid tribute to the late Yılmaz Güney, a titan of Turkish cinema.
Nejat İşler earned the title of Best Actor for his role in Evcilik, and Murat Has received the Best Cinematography Award for Balinanın Bilgisi. The Best Director Award went to Necmi Sancak for Ayşe, who also received the “Behlül Dal Best First Film Award” for the same project. Meanwhile, the Dr. Avni Tolunay Jury Special Award was presented to Belkıs Bayrak for her direction of Gülizar.
As the festival wrapped up, Mayor Böcek confirmed that the 62nd Golden Orange Film Festival is set to take place from November 7 to 16, 2025. With its commitment to celebrating artistic expression and nurturing the film industry, the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival continues to shine as a beacon of creativity and cultural pride in Turkey, fostering a vibrant community of filmmakers and cinephiles alike.
