Awards found their winners at Golden Orange! Best Film 'Stone and Feather', Best Actor Mert Fırat and Mehmet Günsür

01.11.2026 00:11

At the 63rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, the Best Film Award went to Ragıp Türk's 'Stone and Feather'; the film closed the night with 6 awards. With their performances in 'The Death of Truth', Mert Fırat and Mehmet Günsür shared the Best Actor award, while Yeşim Ustaoğlu was named Best Director for her film 'The Remnant', and Öykü Karayel was chosen as Best Actress.

At the National Feature Film Competition of the 63rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, held this year, 'Stone and Feather' won the 'Best Film Award.' The film, which left its mark on the night with 6 awards, also received Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Cahide Sonku, Film-Direction Best Director, and Sungu Çapan National Film Writers awards. 'The Remaining' stood out with Best Director and Best Actress awards.

The closing and award ceremony of the 63rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Turkey's longest-running film festival organized by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, was held at the Glass Pyramid. At the ceremony, attended by many names from the film world, awards in national and international competitions found their owners. While 'Stone and Feather' left the night with 6 awards, 'The Remaining' and 'Ancient Blue' also won awards in more than one category. The awarded filmmakers experienced great joy, while speeches at the ceremony highlighted freedom, justice, social issues, and the unifying power of cinema.

'WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE LIGHT OF CINEMA ALIVE'

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Büşra Özdemir stated that the festival brought together domestic and foreign productions with cinema lovers for 8 days. Özdemir said:

“The international productions we carefully selected from all over the world and the qualified films of our cinema from the recent period were in our festival halls for 8 days. Our determination to keep Golden Orange, the light of cinema, the unifying power of art, and our cultural memory alive will always continue. It is the story of those who have believed in cinema for years and those who have left a mark on the future through their labor. This festival, beating in the heart of Antalya, will continue to inspire future generations. ”

'CINEMA MAKES SOCIAL ISSUES VISIBLE'

Derviş Zaim, President of the National Feature Film Competition Jury, said that cinema is not only a means of entertainment and plays an important role in making social issues visible. Zaim said:

“Cinema is not only a means of entertainment, but also a powerful essence that reflects social events, takes them to heart, and has the power to mobilize masses. At the 63rd Antalya Film Festival, we watched films that searched for themselves and the people in the face of social issues and tried different styles of expression. As a jury, we are happy to have encountered different films that can make the invisible visible, break prejudices, and bring to the screen traumas that society is afraid to face, thereby providing a perception of collective confrontation and healing. Cinema does not solve problems directly with a magic wand. However, it creates awareness, forms public opinion, develops empathy, and prepares an intellectual and emotional ground that will guide people. ”

In the competition chaired by Derviş Zaim, Aylin Zoi Tinel, Elif Demoğlu, Fatih Artman, Meryem Uzerli, Sırma Bradley, and Gökhan Kırdar served as jury members.

'STONE AND FEATHER' LEFT ITS MARK ON THE NIGHT WITH 6 AWARDS

'Stone and Feather' won the Best Film Award at the National Feature Film Competition. The film's director, Ragıp Türk, also received Best Screenplay and Film-Direction Best Director awards, while the Cahide Sonku Award was given to Melda Tuzluca from the same film's team. The film completed the night with 6 awards, also winning the shared Best Editing Award given to Naim Kanat and the Sungu Çapan National Film Writers Award.

Türk, who took the stage for the third time during the night, thanked the jury and said he was proud. Noting that he won an award in Antalya for the first time while receiving the Film-Direction Best Director Award, Türk said, “This is my first award in Antalya. I dreamed of it for years. I thank the entire jury. I promise to serve cinema.”

Speaking on stage after the announcement of the Best Film Award, Ragıp Türk recounted the story of how he started in cinema as follows:

“When I first started school, I had no thought of making cinema. I found a job on a film set. I understood cinema on that set. I observed the director there a lot. It was Yeşim Ustaoğlu. Thank you for the inspiration you gave me. I thank my team. I dedicate this award to my mother. ”

BEST DIRECTOR YEŞİM USTAOĞLU

At the National Feature Film Competition, the Best Director Award went to Yeşim Ustaoğlu for the film 'The Remaining.' Ustaoğlu, who received her award from jury president Derviş Zaim, emphasized justice, conscience, and freedom in her speech. Ustaoğlu said, “I don't know if this is what you wanted. My heart ached a little from time to time. I saw what remained. Perhaps for a better future, a better tomorrow, hope, freedom, because this was a search for freedom for me. For me, I suppose I continue my belief in justice and conscience.”

ÖYKÜ KARAYEL RECEIVED HER AWARD FOR FREEDOM

At the National Feature Film Competition, Öykü Karayel won the Best Actress Award for her performance in the film 'The Remaining.' Karayel, who received her award from jury member Fatih Artman, thanked the film team and spoke as follows:

“I thank my dear acting partners. Our entire film team—looking at all of them at the top of the snowy mountain at the crack of dawn every morning—their truly selfless efforts always filled my eyes with tears and moved me. I thank all film workers very much for this. My character had set out on a somewhat painful journey in the name of freedom, in a way. That is why I am receiving this award in the name of freedom, for all of our freedom, and for those who are currently unjustly imprisoned. ”

BEST ACTOR AWARD GOES TO MERT FIRAT AND MEHMET GÜNSÜR

At the National Feature Film Competition, the Best Actor Award was given to Mehmet Günsür and Mert Fırat for their performances in the film 'The Death of Truth.' Fırat and Günsür, who received their awards from jury member Meryem Uzerli, thanked the film team and their families. Fırat concluded his speech with the words “where truth does not die, where we do not leave anyone in the dark, and where we live with our conscience,” while Günsür received applause from the hall by saying, “Beautiful days will come. We will continue to make films about these. This needs to be told to new generations. We are here, and we will continue to make films.”

Meryem Uzerli, who presented the award, also expressed her happiness at being at the festival and said, “I am very proud to be a part of the 63rd year of the Golden Orange Festival, this oldest and most established festival. I wish everyone in life could receive an award here, but unfortunately that doesn't happen. We had a very beautiful week. We were hosted very well in Antalya.”

'LIKE A DREAM FOR ME'

The Best Supporting Actress Award went to the young actress Duygu Köse for her performance in the film 'About a Mother.' Şevket Çoruh, who came on stage to announce the award, addressed jury president Derviş Zaim with humorous words. Çoruh made the audience laugh by saying, “I condemn Derviş Zaim with regret. He has known me since my childhood but never had me act in his films. I had prepared a long speech text. As you know, they make those who give important speeches directors.”

Duygu Köse, who received her award, said, “Standing here today on this stage before giant actors is truly like a dream for me. “Therefore, I thank my family very much. They have always supported me,” she said.

The Best Supporting Actor Award was given to İlhan Şen and Erol Babaoğlu for their performances in the film 'The Jinns' Wedding'.

PROPOSAL FROM THE JURY FOR NEW AWARD CATEGORIES

Derviş Zaim, who announced the Best Director Award, proposed adding new award categories to the festival in the coming years. Zaim said:

“We made a recommendation so that it may serve as a seed for further enriching the festival in the coming years. The jury of the National Feature Film Competition believes that adding sound design, makeup, costume, digital effects, and casting categories to the awards would be beneficial for encouraging Turkish cinema. To make a start and to support this proposal, we would like to mention two films that impressed us in the fields of sound design and makeup. We wholeheartedly congratulate 'The Remaining', which was included in the selection of the Antalya Golden Orange National Competition, for its sound design, and 'The Death of Truth', which impressed us with its makeup. ”

JURY SPECIAL AWARD TO 'ANCIENT BLUE'

At the National Feature Film Competition, the Dr. Avni Tolunay Jury Special Award was given to the film 'Ancient Blue'. The film also won the Best Music Award given to Can Kuman. Jury member Gökhan Kırdar, who announced the award, made the audience laugh by saying, “I came here to watch films and take a vacation. I have also fulfilled my jury duty.”

While Naim Kanat with the film 'Stone and Feather' and Emir Ziyalar with the film 'Ancient Blue' shared the Best Editing Award, the Best Cinematography Award was given to Kırıl Prodonov for the film 'The Remaining'. Osman Özcan and Görkem Canbolat, who won the Best Art Director Award with the film 'The Remaining', noted that they worked under difficult conditions and thanked the entire art team.

The Behlül Dal Best First Film Award went to Büşra Bülbül for the film 'About a Mother'.

HE DEDICATED THE DOCUMENTARY AWARD TO MINERS

In the Documentary Film Competition, evaluated by the jury members Aslı Akdağ, Sabire Soytok, and Selçuk Metin, Arda Sarıgül won the Best Documentary Film Award with the film 'Taxpayer'. Dedicating his award to miners, Sarıgül said, “I receive this award on behalf of the working class. I dedicate it to all miners who lost their lives in mining accidents.”

The Documentary Competition Jury Special Award was given to the film 'Ash and Salt'. Speaking about the award, Çağatay Yurt said, “We are very excited. It was a wonderful festival for us. We are the custodians of this award. The real owners of the award are in Gaza.”

TURKISH SPEECH FROM THE INTERNATIONAL JURY PRESIDENT

Before the announcement of the awards of the International Feature Film Competition, jury president, Greek cinematographer Andreas Sinanos, began his speech in Turkish. Sinanos said, “I thank you for hosting me. I have participated in the festival before. But this time it is stronger. I found everyone very hardworking. I also thank our jury team. We worked hard.”

“I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE”

Jury member Yasmine Al Massri, stating that she was proud to be a Palestinian woman, said, “I am happy to be here as a family member and a creative element. I speak on behalf of the Palestinian people, who can make their voices heard thanks to these festivals. As a woman, it is a source of pride that Antalya has a female mayor. I thank the jury members for being my family. Even though we did not agree with each other in our conversations, I was happy to be together.”

INTERNATIONAL BEST FILM IS 'ONE OF MY FATHERS IS THE MOON'

At the International Film Competition, the Best Film Award was won by 'One of My Fathers Is the Moon'. The Jury Special Award was given to the film 'Milator', while the Jury Special Mention Award was given to Yukiko Sode's film 'All Lovers at Midnight'.

Producer of the film 'Milator', Yusuf Aslanyürek, said, “Cinema is an art of awakening and creating awareness. If I have made even a drop of contribution, it is an honor. There were rumors that the Antalya Film Festival would not be held. We thank the entire team because it was held.”

At the International Competition, the Best Director Award was given to Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas Vignale for the film 'River Train'. While Magdalena Laubisch won the Best Actress Award for her performance in the film 'Six-Week Farewell', the Best Actor Award was shared by Mahendra Perera, Shyam Fernando, Randika Gunathilaka, and Priyantha Sirikumara for their performances in the film 'The Riverstone'.

SHORT FILM AND STUDENT FILM AWARDS

At the National Short Film Competition, the Best Short Film Award was given to Soner Alan's film 'Short Mind'. The Short Film Jury Special Award went to Melis Balcı, while the Short Film Directors Association Best Director Award was won by Sis Gürdal with the film 'Porkatal'.

At the Cinema Schools Student Films Competition, the Jury Special Award was given to Selin Toprak's film 'Happy Earth Day', and the Best Film Award was given to Orhan Kerem Kartal's film 'Long Live Friends'.

The Sungu Çapan International Film Critics Award was given to the film 'Black Rabbit White Rabbit', and the Sungu Çapan National Film Critics Award was given to the film 'Stone and Feather'.