BRANKOPOPOVICBLOG: Fashion Film Festival Istanbul 2016

The second edition of the Fashion Film Festival Istanbul took place 26 and 27 November. The festival took place at the Zorlu Performans Sanatları Merkezi.

This was my second visit to Istanbul; now as part of the jury panel and in 2011 as a fresh student. In September 2011 I just started studying at the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and the Design and Istanbul was part of a study travel. I was 18 years old and just started to discover this new path in my life. Visiting Istanbul was one of the precious memories from my studies, making it my first far away travel destination. Everything was exciting! Istanbul was exotic but also a reconnection with my roots or let's discovering the Ottoman heritage that has left traces in culture on former Yugoslavia. In 2011 I had no idea where my future would take me, an most certainly I did not expect to return as a jury member. In many ways, it was an honour to visit Istanbul.

Femke Huurdeman, Winner Best Young Discover

This rather new two-day event focusing on the fashion film genre does not only include film screening but also a range of panel talks. The founder and festival director Tuna Yilmaz managed to organize an international encounter with relevant industry professionals such as fashion designer Gareth Pugh, photographer Michael Daks, director Senio Zapruder, video artist Harun Guler, fashion photographer Serkan Sedele and fashion film consultant Niccolo Montanari.

The festival closed down with the award ceremony, awarding 4 films in various categories.

And the winners are:

● Best Fashion Film Award: In and Out of Control by Emir Eralp for NOWNESS

● ELLE’s Choice Award: Three Apostles by Koray Birand for Zeynep Tosun

ZEYNEPTOSUN FW16 from Koray Birand on Vimeo.

● Young Discovery Award: Pippin and the Pursuits of Life by Femke Huurdeman for Maaike Fransen

● Best Music Video Award: So Delicious by Peter Emmanuilov for Alvin & Lyle

SOME IMPRESSIONS FROM ISTANBUL