Int'l Migration Film Festival announces award winners

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JUNE 21: Directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts, For Sama won the Best Full Length Film award at Turkey's International Migration Film Festival on June 21, 2020. Celebrated Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, this year’s festival jury president, said that For Sama was selected unanimously for the award. “The Best Film Award of the International Migration Film Festival, which started with the idea of embracing one of the greatest tragedies of this age with its theme, went to a documentary film,” Ceylan said. For Sama, which also won awards for best documentary at several events -- including BAFTA, Cannes and the British Independent Film Awards -- tells the story of a young mother during the Syrian civil war. Al-Kateab said she lived in Turkey for over a year, and she was one of the refugees living in these country. he Most Inspiring Script award was given to Just Like My Son by Italian director Costanza Quatriglio which focuses on the story of two brothers who escaped from Afghanistan and are now living in Europe. Chinese actress and director Joan Chen, one of the jury members, said: “The unsaid is as powerful as the said in the film which lingers and resonates long after we finished it watching.” Quatriglio thanked the festival and the jury for the award and said: “We are so honored to receive this award.” UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Turkish actress Tuba Buyukustun announced The Children of the Shore by Amelia Nanni as the winner of UNICEF International Short Film. Iranian director Farnoosh Samadi from the jury members of The Same Boat competition, said The Same Boat Best Film award went to Turkish director Zeynep Koprulu’s Orada (There). At the festival, Oskar & Lilli by Arash T. Riahi was given the honorable mention award. Oscar-winning Syrian-US actor F. Murray Abraham was the honorary president of the festival.