SEATTLE TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL
ARCHIVE 2012 - 2017
STFF Shorts 2015
The short films of 12 finalists are screened as part of the Short Film Competition, in its
second year. The competition jury, comprised of distinguished voices in the Seattle arts and film
community, selected DoÄŸuÅŸ Özokutan ÇiftçioÄŸlu’s film “Random Attempts” as the winner from
among the finalists. Demet Sever’s film “Rejection” was runner-up, while Yusuf Özer took third
place with his film “Man On The Road.”
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ÇiftçioÄŸlu, flew to Seattle and is covered by STFF, is hosted at the historic Hotel
Sorrento in Seattle for the duration of the festival.
The Winner Film
Director: DoÄŸuÅŸ Özokutan ÇiftçioÄŸlu
Screenwriter: DoÄŸuÅŸ Özokutan ÇiftçioÄŸlu
Stars: Hatice Tezcan
Genre: Comedy, Drama
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A question as old as the history of humankind: What does one live for? Why should we keep on living? Do we have the right to be unhappy about life after fulfilling the roles society has assigned us? According to our film's character Ayla, having no problem in her life does not mean everything is going well. Her monotonous life itself is a sufficient reason for committing suicide. Ayla who decides to take her own life somehow cannot succeed.
1st Runner Up
Director: ÇiÄŸdem Vitrinel
Screenwriter: Ceyda AÅŸar, ÇiÄŸdem Vitrinel (Based on Ä°lham Algör's novel)
Stars: Erdal BeÅŸikçioÄŸlu, Sezin AkbaÅŸoÄŸulları, Erdinç Gülener
Genre: Drama, Romance
Arif, “a writer with no published books” as he describes himself, bumps into Müzeyyen while he is trying to figure out women and love. Arif is sick of the endless expectations of women, and Müzeyyen seems to be wanting nothing but to give. Arif thinks that women always talk about themselves, and Müzeyyen says nothing but encourages him to talk instead. While he is working on finishing his novel, Arif wanders around Müzeyyen’s passionate and mysterious world. At the end of this sensuous journey, Müzeyyen will bring Arif deep sorrow and also some of the answers he’s been looking for so desperately.
2nd Runner Up
Director: Yusuf Özer
Screenwriter: Yusuf Özer
Stars: Yılmaz Angay
Genre: Fiction
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A man hitch-hikes in the country side with luggage in his hand. He has to make a decision if he should get in the car that stops for him or should he help another car that breaks
Sponsors
Jury
Beth Barrett
Seattle International Film Festival - Director of Programming
Beth is responsible for managing all aspects of film programming, the staff of film programmers, and
securing films and guests for the Festival. She is also instrumental in the programming and management
of SIFF Cinema and SIFF’s other year-round programs. An aficionado of short films, she secured SIFF’s
status as an Academy Award® qualifying festival in 2008.
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Charles Mudede
The Stranger - Associate Editor, Filmmaker
Charles Mudede writes about film, books, music, and his life in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, the USA, and the
UK for The Stranger. Mudede is also a filmmaker: Two of his films, Police Beat and Zoo, premiered at
Sundance, and Zoo was screened at Cannes. Mudede has written for the New York Times, Cinema
Scope, Ars Electronica, C Theory, and academic journals.
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Courtney Sheehan
Northwest Film Forum - Artistic Director
Courtney Sheehan leads Northwest Film Forum’s year-round film exhibition and special events
programs, and has curated film programs and produced events for theaters and festivals on three
continents. As a journalist, Courtney has covered film events ranging from the world’s largest
documentary festival (IDFA in Amsterdam) to South America’s largest animation festival (Anima Mundi
in Rio de Janeiro) and her publications include Bitch Magazine, Senses of Cinema, The Independent, and
NECSUS: European Journal of Media Studies. She co-founded Cine Migratorio, a migration-themed film
festival in Santander, Spain.
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Marcie McCabe
Film Writer
Marcie McCabe studied Film & Media at the University of Florida where she learned to break down the
essential components of a film, discuss the overall narrative, shot-by-shot analysis, and theories on how
media affects the individual and society. Working as a film writer for Vanguard Seattle
(vanguardseattle.com) helped further develop and hone in on the skill of writing about film and
understanding the role of the critic in the industry. More to the importance of film and culture, Marcie
believes strongly that film is one of the most powerful mediums in existence and has a tremendous
power to transform society.
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Mikhael Williams
Seattle Office of Film & Music - Creative Industries Advocate
Mikhael Mei Williams is a versatile creative industries management professional with a breadth of
experience spanning entertainment, music, and film in corporate, nonprofit, public sector, and higher
education organizations. Currently she is the Creative Industries Advocate in the Seattle Office of Film +
Music where she focuses on supporting the local creative industry and connecting professionals with
opportunities to participate and engage in Seattle’s creative economy.
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Semih Tareen
Film Music Composer
Semih Tareen is a 3-time award winning film composer located in Seattle. A compilation of his film music
work "Karanlik Senfoniler" (Dark Symphonies) has been released by KALAN music, the prestigious record
label in Istanbul featured in Fatih Akin's documentary "Crossing the Bridge". His latest film project,
Ghostlight, has received critical acclaim and is currently out on DVD and streaming.
Credits
Short Film Competition Director
Ozgur Arman
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Team
Rana San, M. Burak Senol, Arzu Cohen, Semih Energin, Ozgur Arman, Yasemin Tareen