May 4 2006

Labor Film Festival began with a grand opening day ceremony with more than 1500 people in attendance including many celebrities, film producers, trade unionists and intellectuals. Peoples’ Houses, Sendika.org, and Press and Film workers unions from DISK (Progressive Workers’ Confederation) are the organizers of the festival. In the ceremony hosted by Derya Alabora, the first speaker was Önder Özdemir from the organizing committee who talked about the history of the festival. The next speaker, the president of the Peoples’ Houses Abdullah Aydın, thanked the people who had worked for the festival “which told about the struggle of the worker, the unemployed, peasants and laborers. The next speaker, the president of the Press Union Kamil Kartal said revolution was the only way for laborers’ salvation.

Next, awards were given to the producers of Turkish labor films. Those who received plaques included Yavuz Özkan for his film “Maden” (The Mine), Arif Keskiner and Vedat Türkali, the scenarist of the first Turkish labor film and some workers who had contributed to its production.

Vedat Türkali, the honor guest of the festival, had come to the festival in spite of poor health. He talked about his life, his dishonorable discharge from the army because he was a communist and the financial and oppressive difficulties and censorship he had to face. He had joined the film world, he said, so he could communicate with the people better. After his talk the audience gave him a standing ovation.

The program continued with songs from Group 45’ers who sang songs from the seventies, followed by Ruhi Su Dostlar Chorus singing “The International”. The audience sang along the chorus.

The program ended with screening of Lorna Green’s film “Kan Kaybı” (Bloodletting), a comparison of health care systems in Cuba and the USA.

Sendika.org
EK