Istanbul's IKSV festivals record 224,000 visitors in the first seven months

The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (?KSV) announced that its events for the first half of 2015- the Istanbul Film, Music and Jazz Festivals- have concluded, while registering 224,000 viewers in the first seven months of this year.

In its 2015 program, the 34th Istanbul Film Festival, sponsored by Akbank for the 11th time, screened 171 short and feature films, with 455 screenings at eight different theatres through April 4-19. A total of 130,000 cinephiles and festival guests attended the film festival, which featured a concert, master classes and panels. Also at the film festival, the ?Meetings on the Bridge? initiative celebrated its 10th year, having completed 29 film projects and 36 different fund-raising projects since 2006.

The festival?s Cinema Honorary Awards were presented to director and producer Y?lmaz Atadeniz, musician Cahit Berkay, actress Nebahat Çehre, screenwriter and director Safa Önal, and actor Süleyman Turan this year, while Onat Kutlar and his friends were commemorated on the 50th anniversary of their Turkish Cinematheque?s founding. The 1962 production of Metin Erksan?s ?Revenge of the Snakes? was also awarded and screened within the ?Turkish Classics Revisited? project. On a different note, the ordained screening cancellation of the movie ?Bakur? marked this year?s festival. Accordingly, 33 films in the festival?s different competitions decided to cancel their screenings, thus cancelling some award and closing ceremonies as well.

Built upon the theme ?Cultural Lanscapes,? the 43rd Istanbul Music Festival sponsored by Borusan Holding has left its mark on this year?s program as well. The festival hosted around 600 local and international guests, 27 concerts and various premiers at 13 different venues, with 23...