The Turkish Film Festival organized by the Australian Turkish Mutual Alliance (ATMA) has been launched for the enjoyment of moviegoers with a premiere night in Sydney, Australia.

The premiere night of the festival, sponsored by the Directorate General of Cinema of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Yunus Emre Institute and Consulate General in Sydney, was held at Palace Cinemas Norton in Sydney.

The movie entitled "Aykut Enişte" was aired during the premiere program which was attended by Consul General of the Republic of Turkey Melih Karalar, Jihad Dip, the first Muslim Member of Parliament who entered the Parliament of New South Wales from the Labor Party, Esra Bilgiç, known to the moviegoers as Halime Sultan of the Turkish soap "Diriliş Ertuğrul," and many guests from the artistic, political and business circles.

Esra Bilgiç meets moviegoers

Famed actress Esra Bilgiç, known to the moviegoers as Halime Sultan of the Turkish soap "Diriliş Ertuğrul," has met her fans at a panel discussion held as part of the festival at Palace Cinemas Norton on Friday, September 6.

The panel discussion, moderated by chief editor of the daily Sydney Morning Herald Garry Maddox, was attended also by international award-winning actor, producer and director Serhat Caradee and young Australian short film maker Mert Berdilek. During the panel discussion, Turkish films and soaps were discussed and the audience had a chance to ask questions about cinema and hear the experiences of the participants.

Following the panel discussion, "Buğday" (Grain) by award-winning director Semih Kaplanoğlu was screened.

The Turkish Film Festival, organized by the ATMA, will be up and running in Sydney and Melbourne until September 15, during which the movies entitled Aykut Enişte (directed by Onur Bilgetay), Can Dostlar (directed by Tuğçe Soysop), Organize İşler: Sazan Sarmalı (directed by Yılmaz Erdoğan), Rüya (directed by Derviş Zaim), Üç Yol (directed by Faysal Soysal), Öldür Beni Sevgilim (directed by Şenol Sönmez), Buğday (directed by Semih Kaplanoğlu), Toz (directed by Gözde Kural) and Turist Ömer: Uzay Yolunda (directed by Hulki Saner) will be aired.