IFF 2015 | Alper to join Toronto Frenzy

72nd Venice International Film Festival Link for Frenzy

Venice 2015 | Abluka (Frenzy) by Emin Alper - Turkey, France, Qatar, 119’

language: Turkish - s/t English, Italian

Cast: Mehmet Özgür, Berkay Ates  

Synopsis Istanbul is in the grip of political violence. Hamza, a high-ranking police officer offers Kadir a conditional release from prison. To be released he has to accept to work in the new intelligence unit of garbage collectors. Kadir accepts, and starts collecting trash from the shanty towns, checking to see whether it contains material related to bomb-making. Kadir finds his younger brother Ahmet in one of those neighborhoods. Ahmet works at the municipality as part of a team responsible for destroying stray dogs.

See Mavi Boncuk Article link.

Mavi Boncuk |

Award-winning director Emin Alper's film "Abluka" (Frenzy), which will make its world premiere and is expected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 72nd Venice Film Festival during the first week of September, will be screened at the 40th Toronto Film Festival as well, which will take place from Sept. 10-20. The movie has been included in the festival's "Contemporary World Cinema" section. Additionally, the movie has been invited to take part in the festival's "Contemporary World Speakers" program. Following the screening, a Q&A event will be held with Emin Alper as well as a cinema expert from the University of Toronto. The cast stars Mehmet Özgür and Berkay Ateş as well as Tülin Özen, Müfit Kayacan and Ozan Akbaba. A Qatari, French and Turkish co-production, "Abluka" tells the story of Kadir, an ex-con, just released after serving a 15-year sentence, while Istanbul is in the grip of political violence.

Hamza, a high-ranking police officer, offered Kadir conditional release from prison. To be released, he has to accept the offer to work in a new intelligence unit of garbage collectors. Kadir accepts, and starts collecting trash from surrounding shanty towns, checking to see whether it contains material related to bomb-making. While working, Kadir finds his younger brother Ahmet in one of the neighborhoods working for the municipality as part of a team responsible for picking up stray dogs. "Abluka" is the second feature-length film of Alper whose "Tepenin Ardı" (Beyond the Hill) was screened in Berlin and Tribeca three years ago.

Emin Alper, Director: Tepenin Ardi. Emin Alper is a director and actor, known for Tepenin Ardi (2012), Abluka (2015) and Apartman (2004).