!f Istanbul to screen in three cities

This year the annual !f Istanbul Independent Film Festival will open with the theme "Things that heal us." The festival will offer ways of healing and sense-making amid challenges in Turkey and much of the world, inviting viewers to come together, through its films, musical events and public talks.

The festival will open with "Moonlight," the winner of the best drama film at the latest Golden Globe awards. 
It is considered to be a masterpiece by director Barry Jenkins, who was listed among the most eye-catching directors of 2016 by Variety magazine. 

The film won best film, best screenplay and a special jury award for its cast at the Gotham Independent Film festival, and six nominations at the Independent Spirit awards, making it one of the strongest candidates for the Oscars. 

It is an adaptation from the play "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue" by one of the most awarded playwrights in modern theater, Tarell Alvin McCraney, best known for his "Brother/Sister" trilogy. 

"Moonlight" is a story of a child's coming of age, set in three different periods and featuring strong autobiographical elements. 

Bests of the year

!f Istanbul will once again host the Turkish premieres of some of the highlights from prominent festivals around the world, from Sundance to Venice and Toronto to Cannes, as well as outstanding performers in the award season. 

"Certain Women," by the queen of independent cinema, Kelly Reichardt, is one of them. The film has won all-round praise, especially for fascinating performances by Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern and outstandingly Lily Gladstone. 

Danish animator Michael Dudok de Wit will come with his latest work, "The Red Turtle," which...