News Center- The 26th Flying Broom International Women’s Films Festival kicked off at the Ankara Opera House last night with the contributions of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Cinema. The festival kicked off with an award ceremony. Allegra Ensemble performed at the award ceremony presented by Şenay Gürler and Yetkin Dikinciler. After the concert, the winners received the Honor, Bilge Olgaç Achievement and Young Witch awards given every year to make women visible in cinema and encourage young female filmmakers.

‘Your wall is not a whit’

Actress and writer Tilbe Saran made a speech after receiving this year's Honor Award. In her speech, she said:

“You become hope. Now, we need it the most. I want to say to the beautiful red-haired woman, who became an election observer after learning the results of the first round presidential election and said that she gave up on having a child, that your wall is not a whit for us. The speed in our strength is neither the smoky promise of a religious man nor the heartwarming of a dream; it is only the unstoppable flow of history. Today is the day before tomorrow, tomorrow washes away today, and it flows endlessly. We are today's heroes, tomorrow's callers. We are the voice of this ever-flowing, destroying and building flow. We are the ones who adapt their steps to the flow of history, destroy the imperialism whose foundations collapsed, and build the future. That wall, your wall is not a whit.”

She dedicated her award to Çiğdem Mater

Asiye Dinçsoy, one of the winners of the Bilge Olgaç Achievement Award, received the award from Nazan Kesal. In her speech, Asiye Dinçsoy said, “I want to say something to our sisters, who yes to this dark period: We are always here if you need us one day. We will always struggle. I receive this award for Çiğdem Mater, a victim of this darkness.”

Other winners of the 2023 Bilge Olgaç Achievement Award are Belmin Söylemez and Selda Taşkın. The winner of the 2023 Young Witch Award is Öyküsu Özyürek. They have dedicated their awards to Çiğdem Mater. The Theme Award of the Flying Broom International Women’s Films Festival has been dedicated to all women chanting, “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (English: Women, Life, Freedom)”.

The 26th Flying Broom International Women’s Films Festival will be held at the Büyülü Fener Kızılay Movie Theater in Ankara until June 7.