Adana Golden Axe Film Festival concludes with major awards

The 33rd International Adana Golden Axe Film Festival concluded with an awards ceremony at Çukurova University Congress Center. In the National Feature Film Competition, Ali Vatansever’s ‘Bir Arada Yalnız’ won both Best Film and Best Director. Other major winners included Hazar Ergüçlü, who received the Best Actress award for her performance in ‘Mutter: Bir Annenin Hatıra Defteri’, a film that also secured awards for editing, cinematography, and art direction.

During her acceptance speech, Hazar Ergüçlü delivered a poignant address regarding social injustice and the struggles of mining families. Referencing the Soma mining disaster and the grief of those affected, she stated, “When I see mining children crying, I am ashamed of living, of the breath I take.” She also commented on the difficulty of maintaining individuality in the current social climate.

Other notable awards included the Yılmaz Güney Award, which went to Banu Sıvacı’s ‘Günyüzü’, and the Adana Audience Award, given to Tunç Şahin’s ‘Canavar’. The festival also featured educational programs for students, covering topics such as digital media, artificial intelligence in cinema, and film restoration.