Toss-Up (Yazi Tura) by Ügür Yucel. Turkey, 2004, 103 min, 35 mm

Prominent actor-turned-director Yucel’s gritty portrayal of war veterans’ alienation swept the Antalya Film Festival (Turkey’s Oscars equivalent). With an aggressive cinema vérité style, Yucel tells the stories of two army mates discharged after a landmine incident in eastern Anatolia. Ridvan returns to small-town Cappadocia missing a leg and consumed with guilt over his actions against Kurdish militants; Cevher, deaf in one ear and prone to panic attacks, finds his ambitions for a normal civilian life in Istanbul destroyed in the 1999 earthquake. Yucel’s intense film is a heartfelt analysis of human weakness, both in battle and on the home front. In Turkish with English subtitles.

Fri, Nov 4, 9:30

Cast & Crew:

Cast: Kenan Imirzalioglu, Olgun Simsek, Bahri Beyat, Engin Günaydin, Teoman Kumbaracibasi, Erkan Can, Settar Tanriögen
Writer: Ügür Yücel
Producers: Hakki Göçeoglu, Defne Kayalar, Haris Padouvas, Ügür Yücel
Cinematographers: Baris Özbiçer, Ahmet Emre Tanyildiz, Tayfun Çetindag, Roy Kurtluyan
Editors: Ügür Yücel, Sigurbjörg Jonsdottir, Valdís Óskarsdóttir
Music: Erkan Ogur
Sound: Boris Trayanov

Filmmaker Bio:

Ügür Yücel was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1957, and graduated from the theater division of the State Conservatory. He began his acting career with stand-up shows. In 1983, he began acting in feature films, carrying his distinctive style to the big screen. Yücel became one of the most popular and successful contemporary Turkish actors with movies such as Muhsin Bey (Mr. Muhsin), for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Award in the 24th Antalya Film Festival; Selamsiz Bandosu (Selamsiz Band); Arabesk (Arabesque); Eskiya (The Bandit); and Balalayka. Yücel has also produced, directed and starred in some of the most prominent programs in Turkish television history such as Aziz Ahmet, Ikinci Bahar, Karanlikta Kosanlar, and Alacakaranlik. In addition to his career as a writer, director and actor, he worked as a composer and music director for two feature films in 1998: Gemide (On Board) and Laleli’de Bir Azize (A Madonna in Laleli). Six years ago, he decided to shoot his own films and continues to produce and act in television projects. Toss-Up is his feature film directorial debut. (Bio adapted from the Moon and Stars Project).

Festivals / Awards:

  • Istanbul International Film Festival: Best Director, Best Actor (Olgun Simsek), People’s Choice Award, 2005
  • Adana Film Festival, Turkey: Best Director, Best Actor (Olgun Simsek and Kenan Imirzalioglu), Best Supporting Actor (Teoman Kumbaracibasi), 2005
  • Ankara International Film Festival, Turkey: Best Actor (Olgun Simsek), Best Original Music, Mahmut Tali Öngören Special Award Best Film, 2005
  • Nürnberg Turkish-German Film Festival: Best Film, 2005
  • SIYAD Film Critics’ Awards, Turkey: Best Actor (Olgun Simsek), Best Supporting Actor (Erkan Can), Best Original Music, 2005
  • Heidelberg Film Festival, 2005
  • Kiev International Film Festival, 2005
  • Montreal World Film Festival, 2005
  • Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic, 2005
  • Antalya Film Festival, Turkey: Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Olgun Simsek), Best Supporting Actress (Eli Mango), Best Supporting Actor (Bahri Beyat), Best Editing, Best Original Music, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Make-Up Design, Best Sound Mixing, 2004

Print Source:

Maya Entertainment Inc.
Film Center Building
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 901
New York, NY 10036 USA
Phone: (1 212) 333 2232
Fax: (1 212) 333 2238
Contact: Mevlut Akkaya
Email: mevlut@mayaentertainment.com