Istanbul Film Festival head resigns

ISTANBUL

Azize Tan, the head of the Istanbul Film Festival for almost a decade, will step down in October.

Tan’s resignation was announced on Monday in a statement from the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV).

No reason was given for the resignation, but the statement did say the festival was going through a “restructuring”.

The festival’s assistant director since 2006, Kerem Ayan, will take over Tan’s position, the statement added.

This year's Istanbul Film Festival was dogged by controversy over the planned screening of a contentious documentary.

In April, the IKSV claimed a film about the illegal Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – listed a terror group by Turkey, the United States and the EU – was cancelled after receiving an official letter from Turkey’s Culture Ministry.

According to festival organizers, the letter “reminded” them “… films produced in Turkey need to have obtained a formal registration certificate in order to be screened at festivals”.

The documentary – called Bakur [North] – was directed by Cayan Demirel and journalist Ertugrul Mavioglu. After the row, competitions across a range of festival categories were cancelled.

Turkey's Culture Ministry denied accusations of censorship.

Tan, who was the festival director for the last nine years and has worked in different positions in IKSV since 1997, “will continue her support [for] the Istanbul Film Festival as advisor,” the organization said in its statement.