Made with the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s General Directorate of Cinema and TRT Sinema, Şeyhmus Altun’s debut feature “Aldığımız Nefes” (As We Breathe) has come away with awards from the 36th Ankara Film Festival and the 46th Cairo International Film Festival.
Şeyhmus Altun’s first feature film “Aldığımız Nefes” continues its festival journey with strong successes. Having held its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, its European premiere in the “New Directors” section at San Sebastián and its Turkish premiere at the 62nd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, the film has now won major awards at the Ankara Film Festival and the Cairo International Film Festival.
Strong Successes at Home and Abroad
Honoured with three awards in the National Feature Film Competition of the 36th Ankara Film Festival, the film won “Best Art Director” for Sevi Sevgi, while the “Best Actor” award went to Hakan Karsak. The “Mahmut Tali Öngören Best First Film” award, one of the competition’s key categories, went to “Aldığımız Nefes”, directed by Şeyhmus Altun.
Adding a new honour to its international successes, the film also returned from the 46th Cairo International Film Festival with an award. One of the standout productions in the competition, “Aldığımız Nefes” won over the jury and was awarded the Bronze Pyramid – Special Jury Prize.
The Strong Cast of “Aldığımız Nefes”
Starring young actress Defne Zeynep Enci, the film also features Hakan Karsak, Sacide Taşaner, Rüzgâr Usta, Aras Kavak and Deniz Kavak. Telling the story of ten-year-old Esma, whose life changes in an instant in a small town shaken by a chemical factory explosion, the film conveys, with grace and power, the struggle of a child forced to grow up early to hold on to hope.
With cinematography by Cevahir Şahin, editing by Evren Lus and art direction by Sevi Sevgi, the film was brought to life by Jurnal Kolektif. A Türkiye–Denmark co-production, “Aldığımız Nefes” continues its festival journey in strong form with its national and international awards.
CREDITS
TITLE: ALDIĞIMIZ NEFES
ENGLISH TITLE: AS WE BREATHE
DIRECTOR and SCREENWRITER: ŞEYHMUS ALTUN
PRODUCER: FEVZİYE HAZAL YAZAN
CO-PRODUCER: JOHANNA SVEINSDOTTIR
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: CEVAHİR ŞAHİN
EDITOR: EVREN LUS
ART DIRECTOR: SEVİ SEVGİ
LINE PRODUCER: GÖKDENİZ SALKO
COSTUME: ÇİĞDEM ULUSU
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: DEFNE BAYRAKGİL
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: BİLGE NURAY BOZ
PRODUCTION MANAGER: İBRAHİM DABİL
CAST: DEFNE ZEYNEP ENCİ, HAKAN KARSAK, SACİDE TAŞANER, RÜZGAR USTA, ARAS KAVAK, DENİZ KAVAK
