SALI, �UBAT 13, 2007
"The Ambassador"
rouble at Turkey's borders
At a time when a resolution has been proposed in the U.S. Congress for the recognition of Armenian genocide claims, Turkey has given the go-ahead on offering another type of story about Turkey: they will promote the real story of Behiç Erkin, the Turkish Ambassador to Paris who saved the lives of some 18,200 Jews and arranged their voyage to Turkey in 1940.
The story will be told as part of a project called “The Ambassador,” which secured the Turkish government's backing in 2006. “The Ambassador” is a three-phase project that involves a book, a documentary film and a Hollywood movie, emphasizing Turkish support to Jews during the Holocaust.
The book “Büyükelçi” (“The Ambassador”) written by Erkin's grandchild, Emir Kývýrcýk, has been in bookshops since Saturday. A documentary film by Filmacass Film Production Inc. will follow. Finally, a film produced in Hollywood will be made by BMH Worldwide Entertainment.
Kývýrcýk searches archives for 9 years:
Emir Kývýrcýk told the Turkish Daily News that a movie directed by Steven Spielberg made Oscar Schindler well known all over the world for saving the life of 1,000 Jews. He saved their lives only by giving them food whereas Kývýrcýk's grandfather saved the lives of 18,000 Jews. He said he has been working on the project for more than nine years and is now ready to wrap up his long-term efforts with a movie.
BMH will open doors of Hollywood:
BMH Worldwide Entertainment was founded by two Turks and one American who live in the United States. The company brings Hollywood and Turkish cinema and TV together. One of their projects was “Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak” (“The Valley of the Wolves: Iraq”). Using the initials of the three founders' names created the name of the company. Bjorn Rebney, who lives in Los Angeles, is a well known specialist in the United States. He is an agent for professional athletes, teams and artists. Mehmet Çelebi has worked for the world's biggest finance companies and provided his services as a financial consultant to many celebrities and Huma Alpaytac is the co-founder of Alpaytac PR and Marketing based in Chicago. BMH has established partnerships with the Paradigm Talent Agency, which gives them an opportunity to with the studios like Universal film and Walt Disney.
Rebney, speaking with the TDN, said, "The strategic partnership between the Paradigm Talent Agency, BMH Worldwide and renowned Producer Tim O'Hair was created in 2006 to secure the world's top actors, writers and directors to produce star-driven, A-level Hollywood pictures in Turkey."
Çelebi said over the weekend in a telephone interview, “Obviously, this is an important film for many reasons. At a time when Islam and Turkey are under attack, this is yet more proof that when Europe was indifferent and silent, it was a Muslim and a Turk who made a difference and did not remain silent to the inhumanity taking place in the heart of Europe.”
One of the leaders in the Turkish community in Chicago, Çelebi said it is easy to hand out roles for Hollywood actors and actresses with such a partnership and he confirmed the Turkish state's support for the film project. Çelebi said the scenario would be completed within three months and shooting would start this year.
Egemen Baðýþ: project mediator:
Çelebi said, "BMH Worldwide Entertainment has been working with Member of Turkish Parliament and previous President of the Federation of Turkish-American Associations Egemen Bagýþ, who has spent many years in the United States and is very aware of and concerned about Turkey's image around the world. He has been a great supporter of this and other projects that will enhance Turkey's image across the globe."
Baðýþ, the president of the U.S. Caucus in Turkish Parliament, had given the first clue about the project last week in Parliament. Bagýþ, also a member of advisory council of the Turkish Film Council in the United States, suggested, “Prominent figures of the diaspora pay Hollywood to make genocide movies. We too have wealthy people; however, we don't have a culture of investing in Hollywood. We should also be relying on such methods and commission movies explaining Turkey's side of the story.”
Gül's meeting in the United States:
Film projects are supported by the Promotion Fund of Turkey. Namýk Tan, the previous spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the new ambassador to Israel, is working with Israel to find survivors of the Holocaust and Jewish sponsors. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül, during his visit to the United States last week, also met with Çelebi and got information about the project.
Miss Turkey on screen:
The producer of Filmacass, Mine Vargý, best model of Turkey in 1968, told the TDN that the Turkish government is giving financial support for the projects and helping open archives. Vargý added that Israel is also involved to establish contacts with the world's 200 Holocaust survivors, and said that they need $3 million to complete this project.
On the other side, Çelebi is looking for sponsors for the $40 million project. Çelebi and Vargý emphasized that they are looking for sponsors from both the Turks and the Jews.
The story of “The Ambassador” or Behiç Erkin:
Behiç Erkin's grandfather was an Ottoman Army Commander. Despite the fact that Erkin was disabled, he was accepted to the Ottoman Army because of his grandfather's position and he became the only individual to receive "special authorization" to join the Ottoman Army Corps of Officers.
Erkin was appointed Thessalonica Military Railroad Commisioner and met Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, in 1907. He became one of Atatürk's closest friends and confidants throughout his lifetime.
During the Gallipoli War, Erkin was responsible for successfully transporting logistics and military personnel to the front, for which he was awarded the German Gold Cross (First Degree), the highest award given by the Germans and French Legione D'Honneur (First Degree).
Erkin was asked by Atatürk to head the newly formed Turkish Railroad Administration during the War of Independence. It was one of the most important and vital posts for the war years as it shouldered the transportation of army and logistics to various fronts during the war.
Atatürk gave Behiç his last name, "Erkin," which means independent, on Feb. 8, 1935 and said, “When Behiç has a firm conviction, even I can't change his mind.”
After the War of Independence, Erkin was awarded the "Independence Medal." He became a member of the newly established Parliament and later the Public Works Ministery.
After the death of Atatürk in 1938, Ýsmet Ýnönü came to power and Ýnönü sent Erkin to France as Turkish ambassador to Paris. During his tenure, which coincided with the Nazi occupation in France, he ensured that Nazi officials did not confiscate the properties of Turkish citizens of Jewish origin living in France.
The registered number of Turkish Jews was about 10,000 but there were about 10,000 unregistered Jews, whose origin can not be identified as to whether they were Turkish or not.
He opposed the French authorities and granted Turkish citizenship to those who called themselves Turkish under the pressure of Nazi occupiers who wanted to send the Jews to concentration camps. He used his golden German medal and personal courage and knowledge to help secure the return of Turkish Jews.
In order to prevent the French security forces from apprehending the Jews of Turkish origin from their domiciles, he threatened the French by saying he would have Turkish flags hung up in front of every house therefore providing diplomatic immunity.
The ambassador provided the safe return of over 18,200 Turkish-Jewish citizens living in France out of 20,000 by train. Nowhere else did members of the Jewish community survive in such large numbers under Nazi occupation.
DUYGU GÜVENÇ
ANKARA Turkish Daily News
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CUMARTES�, HAZ�RAN 23, 2012
The Second "Kazakhstan Montage of Cinemas: Film & Cultural Festival" launches at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Los Angeles on Aug. 3 for a one-week celebration of Kazakh cinema and culture, including musicians.
The festival is a stellar opportunity for directors, producers, location scouts, and the general public to get an understanding and appreciation of this exotic locale without leaving home.
Sweeping from the Caspian Sea on its Russian border to the Altai Mountain range on the Chinese border, Kazakhstan has a rich nomadic history as well as a powerful current tapestry of cultures. Since gaining independence in 1991, the Central Asian Republic has embraced its remarkable filmmaking past that dates back to the 1930's, when Sergei Eisenstein made his classic “Ivan the Terrible” in this mystic land, and has even given rise to several "New Wave" movements.
Opening night on Aug. 3rd begins with a reception at 7 pm, and includes a program of live entertainment until 11 pm, at the DGA Theater.
Sponsored by Kazakh Geographic Society (KazGeo.kz ), helixfilmsinc.com , the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Los Angeles, the festival includes Advisory Board Members Steven-Charles Jaffe (GHOST, K19), David Marconi (Screenwriter, ENEMY OF THE STATE), and Ambassador Erlan Idrissov.
Tickets cost $10 (including free parking) can be purchased from the festival’s website. "Kazakhstan Montage of Cinemas: Film & Cultural Festival 2012" will be held Aug. 3 - 9 at the Directors Guild of America on 7920 Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, California
For more information, please see www.kazakhfestival.com - KazakhFilmFestLA@gmail.com
Kaynak : HelixFilmsInc.com
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