the museum of modern art

Description

Ferzan Ozpetek – Director Özpetek was born in Istanbul in 1959 and he moved to Italy to study film history in Rome La Sapienza University in 1976. He studied art history and costume in Novana Academy and directing in Silvio D’Amico Theatre Art Academy. After cooperating with Julien Beck and ‘Living Teather’ in 1982, he became director assistant in Massiomo Troisi’s “Scusate il Ritardo” and later on Maurizio Ponzi’s movie “Son Contento” in which he also had his first acting experience as a street artist. Ferzan Özpetek has worked as a director assistant around 15 years for various directors such as Ricky Tognazzi, Lamberto Bava, Francesco Nuti, Sergio Citti, Giovanni Veronesi and Marco Risi. His first film, ‘İl Bagno Turco – Hammam’ received a great acclaim by critics and was very well received at festivals both in Italy and other countries. In May 1997, ‘Hammam’ premiered in Italian theaters as well as being a part of Cannes Film Festivals’ most prestigious Quinzaine des Realizatuers category. Özpetek’s second feature film Harem Suare, met with the audiences in 1999, it’s story taking place in the birth city of the director, Istanbul, co-screenwritten with Gianni Romoli. In the era of Ottoman emperor Abdulhamid II, the film depicts the love story between eunuch Nadir and sultan’s favorite concubine Safiye, again to the great acclaim of both critics and the audience. Same year, the film premiered in Cannes Film Festival’s “Un Certain Regard” category and was invited to London Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival. Özpetek third film, “Le Fate Ignoranti – Ignorant Fairies’, with its international success, gained praise from critics and the cinema box office receipts in 2001 as one of the most important films of the season. Acclaimed as one of the most important agenda items of 2001, ‘Ignorant Fairies’ won numerous awards amongst 3 Globi d’Oro and 4 Nastri d’Argento awards. “La Finestra di Fronte – Facing Windows” also was an international success in 2003. In 2005, his fifth film, “Sacro Cuore – Sacred Heart” won 12 different awards and has achieved many successes such as the David di Donatello awards. In 2007, “Saturno Contro – A Lifetime Is Not Enough” also became an international success and won numerous awards. In 2008, Ferzan Özpetek was a part of the official jury of the 64th Venice International Film Festival, the year becoming a turning point in his career as a very significant term. For the first time, he directed an anonymous film without his own screenwriting based on the novel by Melania Gaia Mazzucco. “Un Giorno Perfetto – A Perfect Day” gained a big success at 65th Venice International Film Festival, becoming the most talked about and surprising film for the critics. In December 2008, the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA), exhibited a showcase for Ferzan Özpetek, bringing his seven films together. Özpetek was the first director from Turkey and one of the very few from Italy to fulfill this great honor. Ferzan Özpetek’s family comedy, “Mine Vaganti – Loose Cannons” premiered at the 70th film Berlin International Film Festival and as a result of yet another triumphant success achieved, he was honored by the Italian state with an honorary citizenship. Özpetek also staged the great Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Aida” at one the world’s most prestigious musical events, for the opening of the Florence Opera, in Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre, in April 2011. For his latest film ‘Magnifica Presenza – Magnificent Presence” Sezen Aksu composed and sang a special song called “Gitmem Daha”, the words written by Yıldırım Türker. Alongside Sezen Aksu, Magnificent Presence’s soundtrack which also features Pasquale Catalano’s music climbed up to number one in Italian music charts.