Turkish-German films in Nurnberg

The 20th Turkish-German Film Festival kicked off in Nurnberg's Tafenhalle Culture and Arts Center.

Nurnberg Mayor Ulrich Maly, Turkish Consul General to Nurnberg Asip Kaya as well as cinema critic Klaus Eder, actors Cem Y?lmaz, U?ur Yücel, ?ener ?en were among the guests of the opening ceremony.

The Honorary Awards of the festival were presented to German actress Hanna Schygulla and Turkish director Yavuz Turgul, the latter of whom was not present at the ceremony.

The opening film of the festival was "E?k?ya" (Bandit), starring ?en and Yücel. The festival will screen 38 films in total, of which 30 will be premieres.

The 38 short, feature, and documentary films to be shown will be from the cinema of both countries. In addition, the group Karde? Türküler will give a concert as part of the program on March 18.

Nine films will compete for the main prize of the festival - five from Turkey and four from Germany. A jury committee of Turkish and German actors, producers and directors, headed by German actor Uwe Kockisch, will select the best film, and the winner will be announced at a ceremony on March 21. 
 
Delivering the opening speech, Consul General Kaya said the festival films were particularly important for Turkish youths in Germany.

"The films will show these young people the culture of their homeland, while German citizens will also get chance to know Turkey better," Kaya said.

Popular comedy actor Cem Y?lmaz, meanwhile, raised a laugh in his speech. "I know that everyone here, especially our German friends, are good people. You can understand it as soon as you get into their Mercedes," Y?lmaz quipped.

The festival will continue until March 22.