Ayla Algan

Veteran theater and cinema actress Ayla Algan has died of a brain hemorrhage in Istanbul at the age of 86.

Algan suddenly fell ill while reading a script at home around 7 p.m. on Jan. 4 and was taken to Taksim Acıbadem Hospital, her relatives said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced the winners of this year's Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Awards, with late Turkish folk poet Aşık Veysel being honored with the loyalty award.

The winner of the award in the field of music was Ajda Pekkan, while Yılmaz Erdoğan received the cinema award for his screenwriting and acting.

The nominees for the 21st Yapı Kredi Afife Theater Awards were announced on April 3, with a number of young directors and actors up for the top prizes. 

In the main categories, the nominees for best director include Şahika Tekand (Waiting for Godot), Nurkan Erpulat (The Ridiculous Darkness), Murat Daltaban (How to Hold Your Breath?), Çağ Çalışkur (Yen) and Mehmet Birkiye (Lungs). 

The 23rd Adana International Film Festival ended on Sept. 25 with the Best Film Award, presented to Reha Erdem's "Koca Dünya" (Big, Big World). 
 
A total of 18 awards were presented during the festival. Kıvanç Sezer's "Babamın Kanatları" (My Father's Wings) took home seven awards. 

The 23rd International Adana Film Festival has opened in the southern province of Adana. 

The festival will see total of 250 films shown in 636 screenings, and will commemorate the late actor Tarık Akan, who died of cancer on Sept. 9.