Meet the Judges
We're happy to bring you information about the selected judges for this year's International Film Festival. These extraordinary and talented individuals will have the arduous task of choosing six winners. Each winner will be given a spot in our upcoming DVD as well as on our web site.
All of our judges are immigrants, and with their diverse spectrum of experience and cultural backgrounds are the perfect individuals to preside over a festival that focuses not just on filmmaking, but also on cultural diversity and cultural education.
Click on the judge's name below to quickly navigate to their biography
- Stephen Pite (United States)
- Giovanni Scognamillo (Turkey)
- Atilla Dorsay (Turkey)
- Guy Shahar (United States)
- Veronique N. Doumbe (United States)
- Luis Cady Abarca (Peru)
- Yesim Ustaoglu (Turkey)
- Hilmi Etikan (Turkey)
- Tevfik İsmailov (Turkey)
- Tevfik Başer (Turkey)
- Reşit Mehmet Erol (Turkey)
Istanbul Film Festival Guest Speaker: Ege
Please visit the official website of Turkish singer, Ege! On his website you can find more information about Ege, his music, his life and about his home. www.egesong.com Turkish born international music star Ege is supporting our Film Festival with his music, songs and as our guest speaker at CRR Concert Hall.
Stephen Pite, Dean
Gibbs Film School - New York
Stephen Pite, Dean, Gibbs Film School - New York Stephen Pite, the Dean of the School of Design and Digital Media at Katharine Gibbs School NY, received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, an MA from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. Mr. Pite is currently in production on a documentary of national scale on emerging designers, filmmakers and digital artists entitled: Digital Dream Teams, and is the author of "The Digital Designer: 101 Graphic Design Projects for Print, the Web, Multimedia, and Motion Graphics" published by Delmar/Thompson Learning in 2002. In 1998 Stephen was the Co-Producer / Co-Director on Working Matters: The Social Sciences at KU, a video promotion for the School of Social Sciences, University of Kansas. He also served as the Writer and Director in 1997 on a video promotion on natural science teaching methods funded by the Eisenhower Education Act for the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Public Education Department. Stephen's Clients include: United Artists, Spiral Pictures, Columbia Film School and Boneyard Records, and his former affiliations include the Ross Institute, Kansas City Art Institute, Southern California Institute of Architecture, and School of Visual Arts. In 2001 Stephen served as a Juror for the Denver Art Directors Club Annual Student Show, has lectured at Metropolitan State College, and received an Instructional Technologies Grant, and the Center for Teaching Excellence Grant from the University of Kansas in 1997 & 1998 respectively.
Back to Top
Giovanni Scognamillo
Istanbul
Mr. Scognamillo was born in Şişli, Istanbul in 1929, the son (only child) of Elisabetta Filipucci, and Leone Scognamillo. Mother is an Istanbul born Greek whose roots are in the Aegean island of Tenos, and father is again Istanbul born but origins from Naples. The first 7 years of his life were spent in Asmalımescit street in Beyoğlu, a traditional built house that no longer stands. Mr. Giovanni is a well-known cinema writer and historian. Giovanni Scognamillo is known in Turkey for his works of literature, his book on the history of cinema and countless books on Beyoglu, he is, in short, a symbol of the quarter. Soon his latest, ‘Beyoglu Writings’, is going to appear in Turkish, a collection, once again, of writings on Beyoglu together with a chronology and a bibliography. As a Levantine, Giovanni Scognamillo insists that he lives on one of the most beautiful avenues in the world. True, there are famous avenues in other cities. But which of them is a place where art, culture, entertainment and fashion have always been so closely intertwined?
His Bio in Turkish
1929’da İstanbul’da doğdu. İtalyan Lisesi , Edebiyat bölümünden mezun olduktan sonra yabancı basında sinema yazarlığına başladı 1948-61 yıllarında başta İtalyan ,Fransız ,ABD , Norveç basını olmak üzere yabancı basında, 1961’den sonra ise Türk basınında Akşam, Yön, Sinema 65, Ulusal Sinema, Yedinci Sanat, Ses, Hayat, Bravo, Video-Sinema, Beyaz Perde, TV’de Yedi Gün gibi gazete ve dergilerde sinema yazarlığını sürdürdü. Türk Sinemasında Altı Yönetmen adlı kitabının yanı sıra Agâh Özgüç’le birlikte Türk Sinemasında Kadın ve Cinsiyet ve 1965 Sinema Yıllığı’nı hazırladı. Dünyamızın Gizli Sahipleri, Uzaydan Geldiler, Geleceğimizin Anahtarları (Koza Yayınları), Batının İnanç Temelleri (Dergâh Yayınları), Bir Levantenin Beyoğlu Anıları (Metis Yayınevi), Cadde-i Kebir’de Sinema (Metis Yayınevi), İstanbul Gizemleri, Beyoğlu’nda Fuhuş (Altın), Dehşetin Kapıları (Mitos), Amerikan Sineması (Ağaç), Batı Sinemasında Türkiye ve Türkler, Korkunun Sanatları (İnkılap), Yeşilçam’dan Önce, Yeşilçam’dan Sonra (Antrakt), Beyoğlu Kabusları ve Diğer Öyküler (Okuyan Us), Dünya Sinema Sanayii (Timaş), Türk Sinema Tarihi (Kabalcı Yayınevi), Fantastik Türk Sineması (Kabalcı Yayınevi) adlı kitapların yazarıdır.
Back to Top
Atilla Dorsay
Istanbul
Born on March 17, 1939, Atilla Dorsay is a very well-known Cinema journalist and film critic from Istanbul.
Bio in Turkish
İzmir doğumludur. Galatasaray Lisesi ve Devlet Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi (şimdiki M.S.Ü.) Yüksek Mimarlık bölümünden mezun oldu (1964). 1966 yılından itibaren Cumhuriyet gazetesinde sinema üzerine yazmaya başladı ve sonra bunu asıl meslek olarak seçti. Cumhuriyet’te 27 yıl sürekli yazdıktan sonra Milliyet ve Yeni Yüzyıl’da yazdı. şimdilerde Sabah’ta yazıyor. Çoğu sinemayla ilgili olmak üzere bugüne dek 29 kitap yayınladı. Türk sineması eleştirilerini, yemek kültürü, şehircilik ve yaşam kültürü üzerine yazılarını ayrı kitaplarda topladı. TRT 2’de, açıldığı 1985 yılından beri film programları yapıyor. Sinema 100 Yaşında kuşağında önemli klasikler sundu. şimdi, Sinema Büyüsü kuşağını hazırlayıp sunuyor. 1986-1995 arasında TRT Radyo 3’te müzik programları yaptı. Sayısız yerli-yabancı dergide yazıları yayınlandı. Birçok festivalde jüri üyeliği yaptı. Ayrıca başlangıcından (1982) bugüne dek ıstanbul Kültür ve Sanat Vakfı Uluslararası ıstanbul Film Festivali’nin yürütme kurulundadır. FIPRESCI-Uluslararası Sinema Yazarları Federasyonu’nun Türkiye temsilcisidir. Dorsay’ın, Legion d’Honneur-Palmes Academiwues Nişanı, TDK Basın Ödülü, Istanbul, Izmir ve Antalya festivalleri Emek Ödülü gibi birçok ödülü bulunuyor.
Back to Top
Guy Shahar
Director
Guy's directing career began at age 8, when he choreographed and staged the neighborhood kids in his own version of West Side Story. Years later, as a graduate of the New York Film Academy and The New School, he served as writer/director/producer of over 25 short films for the prolific Group 101 (previously QuickFlicks), and directed commercials for Ogilvy & Mather. His award-winning work has appeared on television and in several dozen film festivals worldwide. As an actor himself, Guy is passionately committed to the craft of acting. He serves as assistant director and instructor at the Deena Levy Theatre Studio (deenalevy.com), and is a member of the prestigious DnA Project (directorsnactors.com), which explores the director's work with actors in a structured workshop setting. He currently works with Priority Films, where he writes, directs, and produces for film and television, and for whom he is slated to helm the feature comedy "Taking the Stand" in 2007.
Back to Top
Véronique N. Doumbé
Véronique N. Doumbé has roots in Cameroon (Central Africa) and Martinique (West Indies). Born in France and raised in Cameroon, France and Ivory Coast, she studied Law at the University of Paris X, Nanterre in France where she obtained her "Licence en Droit" before moving to New York City in 1981. Véronique N. Doumbé soon turned her attention to film and video. She produced, directed and edited several shorts. "Portrait of an artist: Ray Grist" aired on Manhattan Cable in 1982. "Carnaval Foyal", a look at the Carnival in Fort-de-France, Martinique was screened at the Caribbean Cultural Center in 1983. Véronique N. Doumbé worked as a consultant in the Radio & Film Unit of United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) from 1984 to 1985. Her third short, "Solar Cars" co-produced in 1986 by Sergei Franklin was aired on ABC "Good Morning America" and PBS "the 90's". It was also screened at the 4th Environmental Film Festival in Birmingham, England and at the 5th Cinema Giovani in Torino, Italy. In 1987, Véronique worked as a free-lance editor for Film Video Arts (FVA) and Worldwide Television News (WTN) in New York City. In 1987 and 1988 Véronique taught video production and post-production to young adults in Martinique in the French West Indies. In 1989, Véronique N. Doumbé produced, directed and edited: "AVP: A Step Towards Peace" commissioned by the Alternatives to Violence Project, Inc. The tape was screened at community centers across the country. Since 1990, Véronique N. Doumbé owns and operates a studio where she has edited numerous Independent, Corporate and News productions. "Denis A. Charles: An interrupted conversation" marks Véronique N. Doumbé's feature film debut. This documentary received several awards:
- Best Film/Video Documentary Production
at the XVII Black International Cinema 2002 in Berlin, Germany - 2002 Audience Award / Best Feature
at the First Detroit Docs in Detroit, Michigan - Ciny Award 2002 / Outstanding Documentary, CinewomenNY Screening Series
at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City
You can view her web site at www.ndolofilms.com
Back to Top
Luis Cady Abarca
Luis Cady Abarca received his Master of Fine Arts in film at Columbia University-New York. He has been the producer, writer, and director at Maga Productions in New York City since 1990, working on 35-mm fiction films, TV Commercials, and video projects. He produced documentaries for the weekly news program Jornada Extra, broadcast on international networks TeleAntillas/Channel 2 (Dominican Republic), Canal + and Planète, both in France. He has also produced documentaries for The Macao Arts Foundation in China. His last film, ONE DAY TRIP (35mm/17min) received the Student Academy Award 2006. ONE DAY TRIP also was awarded by the National Board Of Review of Motion Pictures and by the New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA). Cady’s first film DANNY (35mm/20 min), received post-production grants for his 35mm short film, Danny, from the NYSCA and from Apparatus Productions. DANNY was the Director’s Choice in the New York Black Maria Film Festival, won Best Director at the Toulouse International Film Festival, and received official selections in Montreal, Berlin, Tampere, London, and Oberhausen Film Festivals. Cady has also received production grants from the United Nations Art Fund and the New York State Council of the Arts Production grant for Lima: The New Face, a documentary feature film. Additionally, Cady was a finalist in the Sundance Writer’s Lab in 2002, in the 2002 NALIP ABC Fellowship, and the IFP 2003 and 2004 Project Involve N.Y. Cady has been a judge for the EMMY’S AWARD- N.Y. Chapter and for the N.Y. Film Festivals since 1996.
Back to Top
Yesim Ustaoglu
Turkey
Yesim was born in 1960 near Kars, not far from Turkey's border with Armenia. She went to university in Trabzon, on the Black Sea, where she studied architecture. She worked for a number of years as an architect, designer and restoration expert, but was always interested in cinema. She used earnings from her architecture work to direct several short films that went on to win prizes. The Trace (1994), her debut feature, screened at numerous international festivals. Her next feature, Journey to the Sun, received the Blue Angel Award for Best European Film as well as the Peace Film Prize at the 1999 Berlin Film Festival and swept the Istanbul Festival, winning Best Film and Best Director.
Films
- 1. Bulutlari beklerken (2004) Waiting for the Clouds (International: English title)
- 2. Günese yolculuk (1999) ...Journey to the Sun (USA) ...Reise zur Sonne (Germany)
- 3. Iz (1994)
- 4. Hotel (1992)
- 5. Duet (1990)
- 6. Magnafantagna (1987)
- 7. Bir ani yakalamak (1984)
Her Bio in Turkish:
1960 Sarıkamış doğumlu olan Yeşim Ustaoğlu Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesinde mimarlık okudu.Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesinde yüksek lisansını tamamladı. Çeşitli dergilerde sinema yazıları yayınlandı. Bir Anı Yakalamak, Magnafantagna,Oberhausen, Düet ve Otel adlı kısa filmleri çeşitli yarışmalarda ödüller kazandı.1994 yılında yaptığı ilk uzun metraj filmi İz ile 14. Uluslararası İstanbul Film Festivalinde En İyi Türk Filmi’ ödülü aldı. 1999yılı yapımı Güneşe Yolculuk ulusal ve uluslararası birçok festivalde başarı kazandı.
Filmleri
- Bir Anı Yakalamak 1988
- Magnafantagna 1989
- Düet 1990
- Otel 1992
- İz 1994
- Güneşe Yolculuk 1998
- Bulutları Beklerken 2003
Ödülleri
- Orhan Arıburnu Ödülleri, 2000, Güneşe Yolculuk, Mahmut Tali Öngören Jüri Özel Ödülü
- İstanbul Film Festivali, 1999, Güneşe Yolculuk, En İyi Türk Yönetmen
- Ankara Film Festivali, 1999, Güneşe Yolculuk, En İyi Yönetmen
- Ankara Film Festivali, 1999, Güneşe Yolculuk, Onat Kutlar En İyi Senaryo Yazarı
- İstanbul Film Festivali, 2004, Bulutları Beklerken, Jüri Özel Ödülü
- İstanbul Film Festivali, 1995, İz, En İyi Film
Back to Top
Hilmi Etikan
Turkey
1973 yılında "Hacettepe Üniversitesi Fransız Dili ve Edebiyatı" Bölümünü bitirmistir. 1977 yılına kadar Paris'te yasamış, "Fransız Sinema Konservatuarı"na devam ederek diploma almıştır. Yine aynı dönemde, Sorbonne Üniversitesi'nde Fransız “Yeni Roman” akımının önde gelen isimlerinden Claude Simon'un “L'herbe – Ot” isimli romanı üzerine, sinema-edebiyat ilişkilerini konu alan mastır çalışması yapmıştır. 1977 yılında başlayarak fotoğraf ve sinema dersleri vermiş, çeşitli kurumlarda sinema birimleri oluşturmuş, program ve yürütücülüğünü yaptığı eğitim seminerleri ile bir çok insanın sinema kültürünün gelişmesine katkıda bulunmuştur.
Halen ULUSLARARASI ISTANBUL KISA FILM FESTİVALİ nin yöneticiliğini yapmaktadır. Bugüne dek gerçekleştirdiği belgesel filmlerle yurt içi ve dışında çeşitli ödüller almış olan Hilmi Etikan, birçok ulusal ve uluslararası film festivallerine jüri üyesi olarak davet edilmiştir. Değişik kurumlarca verilmiş “Onur Ödülleri” ne sahiptir.
- 1989 IFSAK Sinema Onur Ödülü.
- 1989 “TARLABASI” filmi 2.Lozan Mimarlık ve Şehircilik Filmleri Fest.UPIAV Ödülü
- 1992 Mimarlar Odası Istanbul Büyükkent Şubesi Dostluk Ödülü
- 1995 Ankara Film Festivali Emek Ödülü
- Uluslararası Antalya Altın Portakal Film Video Festivali, Seçici Kurul Üyesi – 1995
- 1997 Inter Film Festival Seçici Kurul Üyesi –Almanya
- 1997 Clermont-Ferrand Kısa Film Festivali Özel Konuk - Fransa
- 1998 Bodrum Çevre Filmleri Festivali Seçici Kurul Üyesi
- 1999 Méridiens Film Festival Seçici Kurul Üyesi – Fransa
- 2000 Crakow Film Festivali Seçici Kurul Üyesi - Polonya
- 2000 Kalamata Int.Documentary Film Festival Seçici Kurul Üyesi – Yunanistan
- 2001 Izmir Kısa Film Festivali Onur Ödülü
- 2002 Etats Généraux du Film Documentaire Özel Konuk- Fransa
- 2004 Akbank 1. Kısa Film Festivali Onur Ödülü
Back to Top
Tevfik İsmailov
Turkey
1939 yılında Bakü'de dünyaya gelen Tevfik Ismailov 1962 yılında Azerbaycan Devlet Tiyatro Enstitüsü Oyunculuk Fakültesi'nden mezun oldu. Ayni okulun yönetmenlik fakültesinde eğitimine devam eden Ismailov, 1964-70 yillari arasinda Azerbaycan Film Stüdyosu'nda yönetmen olarak çalismaya basladi. Yine ayni yillarda Moskova Yüksek Yönetmenlik ve Senaryo Enstitüsü'nde lisansüstü egitimini tamamlayan Ismailov, bugüne kadar 22'si uzun 4'ü kısa olmak üzere 26 sinema filmine imza attı, pek çok belgesel ve TV filmleri hazirladi. Yurt içi ve yurt disinda Azerbaycan sinemasini temsil eden Ismailov, bugüne kadar sayisiz ödüle layik görüldü. Ülkesinde akademik düzeyde çalışmalar yapan Ismailov, 1994 yiilnda Mimar Sinan Üniversitesi Güzel Sanatlar Fakültesi'nde misafir ögretim üyesi olarak göreve basladi. Çesitli toplantilarda, seminer ve sempozyumlarda Türk Cumhuriyetleri ve Sovyet Sinemasi üzerine konusmalar yapan yönetmen, ayni zamanda Azerbaycan Yazarlar Birligi üyesi. Tevfik Ismailov'un daha önce yayinlanmis beş kitabi daha bulunuyor.
Kalici isler yapilmasi gerektigini söyleyen Azeri yönetmen Tevfik Ismailov'un, bes yil süren titiz çalismasi "Türk Cumhuriyetleri Sinema Tarihi" yayinlandi. Azeri yönetmen Tevfik Ismailov uzun ve titiz bir çalismanin neticesinde tamamlanan 'Türk Cumhuriyetleri Sinema Tarihi' adli çalismasini yayinladi. Ilk ciltte Azerbaycan Cumhuriyeti'nin sinema tarihini konu eden Ismailov, ikinci ciltte Kazakistan ve Kirgizistan Cumhuriyetleri'nin, üçüncü ciltte ise Özbekistan ve Türkmenistan Cumhuriyetleri'nin sinema tarihini ele aliyor.
Özverili ve özgün bir çalisma
Mimar Sinan Üniversitesi Sinema-Tv Merkezi ve Türk Güzel Sanatlar Vakfi'nin sponsorlugunda gerçeklestirilen bu çalisma, Tevfik Hoca'nin beş yılını almis. Kitaplarda Orta Asya Türk Cumhuriyetleri'nde sinemanin nasil gelistigi, Sovyetler zamanında bu ülkelerde sinemanin katettigi mesafe ve bugün sinemanin her bir ülkedeki durumu konu aliniyor. Yaklasik 2100 resimden olusan eserde, sadece bu ülkelerin salt sinema tarihi bulunmuyor, dönemsel önem tasiyan tarihi gelismelere, toplumsal olaylara da yer veriliyor. Bu ülkelerin her birisine en az beser defa gidip arastirmalar yapan Ismailov'un üç ciltlik eserinin bir diger özelligi de kitaplarin Türkçe yazilmis olmasi.
Back to Top
Tevfik Başer
Turkey
1951’de Çankırı’da doğdu. Eskişehir Üniversitesi’nde sinema eğitimi aldı. 1973 yılında İngiltere’ye giden Tevfik Başer, burada grafikerlik, sahne tasarımı, fotoğrafçılık eğitimi aldı. 1980’de Hamburg Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi’ne girdi. 1983’te Zwischen Gott und Erde adlı belgeseli yöneten Başer, 1986’da ilk uzun metrajlı filmi olan 40 m2 Almanya’yı yönetti.
Filmleri - Yönetmen
- Elveda Yabancı / Lebewohl Fremde1993
- Sahte Cennete Veda / Aidu Au Faux Paradis1988
- Sahneye Konmuş Vatan1987
- 40 Metre Kare Almanya / Deutschland 40 M²1986
- Tanrı ile Toprak Arasında1982
- Göz Dayanana Kadar1981
Filmleri - Yapımcı
- 40 Metre Kare Almanya / Deutschland 40 M²1986
Filmleri - Senaryo
- Elveda Yabancı / Lebewohl Fremde1993
- Sahte Cennete Veda / Aidu Au Faux Paradis1988
- 40 Metre Kare Almanya / Deutschland 40 M²1986
- Göz Dayanana Kadar1981
Ödülleri
- Locarno Film Festivali, 1987
- Gümüş Leopar
- 40 Metre Kare Almanya / Deutschland 40 M²
- Strasbourg Avrupa Film Festivali, 1988
- Büyük Ödül
- Sahte Cennete Veda / Aidu Au Faux Paradis
Back to Top
Reşit Mehmet Erol
Turkey
Born in Istanbul in 1957, he graduated in 1981 from Istanbul University Faculty of Economics (Majors in Economics, Management and Political Sciences) and then in 1984 he completed his post graduate studies at I.U. Faculty of Management, Business School.
He spent quite some time abroad (Italy, Britain, Germany, Yugoslavia) taking courses and serving traineeships connected with his profession.
He made his military service in 1981-1982 as a infantry second lieutenant/translator at Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara.
Erol embarked on his professional career in 1984 when he started in Alarko Holding’s Foreign Trade Department. Then from 1984 to 1986, he held the position of Assistant Export Manager at Ege Holding. Between 1993 and 1999, R.M. Erol served as assistant manager of the Alkent 2000 Project (After sales services, advertising and public relations). Since 1999, he has been the Advertising and Public Relations Manager for Alarko Holding.
In addition to his business life, Erol is active in the classical music world and he studied piano, flute, harmony, counterpoint and composition with prominent Turkish and foreign musicians from a very young age. In 1986 he established the company Ritmo Muzik and undertook the job of organizing concerts with local and foreign artists and orchestras. He undertook the position of producer for many records and CDs and their artistic directorship. And he still continues to engage in this subject.
In 1986 with pianist Ergican Saydam he made the world-premiere recording of Franz Liszt’s “Grand Pharaphrase” based on the theme of Donizetti’s “Mecidiye March” that Franz Liszt composed in Istanbul in 1847.
It became the first Turkish company to enter the world catalogue with the Bartok-Saygun CD that he made in 1989 with pianist Gulsin Onay in Viersen, Germany.
In Germany (1987-1991) he was the artistic director and also producer of records of the Köln Symphony Orchestra and the Musikkorps der KVB, Wind Instrument Orchestra. In Istanbul (1991) he established the Marmara Chamber Orchestra and was its artistic director.
The researches that he has conducted on music history has been published in local and foreign media.
In 1992-1993 he worked on the art direction team in the Young Indiana Jones TV series for S. Spielberg and G. Lucas (Paramount Pictures).
He is a founder member of the War History Research Group and the member of the İstanbul Philharmonic Society and Junior Chamber International (JCI). The “Environmental Project” that was carried out within the structure of the JCI and led by Erol received the prize for the “Best Project in Europe” at the European Conference held in Berlin in 1999 and in 2000 he was given the title of JCI Senator in a ceremony that was held in Belgium by JCI World President Karyn Bisdee.
Most recently R.M. Erol was the artistic director and producer of the album that he made with pianist Aydın Karlıbel as a result of research he has carried out concerning music history. (pieces composed for the Turks by Donizetti, Rossini, Saint-Saens, Strauss, Liszt, Beethoven, Mozart etc.) He has worked as a production supervisor for pianist Angelika Akbar’s “Vivaldi Four Seasons” (in Berlin for Sony) and “Bach A L’orientale” albums and was the music director at the concerts.
Shooting for a documentary on Turkish Cavalry History with a national TV channel has been completed and is still in the editing stage.