Öz: I listened to my hear

2014-04-03 14:07:14

NEWS CENTER (DİHA) - Kurdish film director Kazım Öz, who rejected an award at this year's 36th Cinéma du Réel Film Festival in Paris for his film "He bû Tune bû" (Once upon a time) in protest at France's attitude to the Paris massacre, explained his reasons for rejecting the award to Selma Akkaya.

Öz said he had refused to accept a prize for his film, which was one of only 40 chosen out of 2,300 films that applied to take part in the festival, saying: "the film fulfilled its mission". Kazım Öz made a short speech on the podium at the awards ceremony, emphasising that the French government and other European states had not done enough to resolve the murders in Paris on 9 January 2013 of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez. Öz's speech attracted great interest from guests at the festival from all over the world. The festival organisers said it was the first time in 36 years they had seen such a protest. Öz said that due to his protest "He bû Tune bû" would not now be shown in libraries. Films at the festival which receive awards are normally bought by the French Ministry of Culture and shown in all libraries.

'I felt that if I accepted award I would be colluding'

Regarding his protest, Öz said: "Sometimes you are faced with situations where you either listen to your head or your heart," adding: "In this case I listened to my heart, because the Paris massacre was a litmus test both for the Kurds and for the European system. Three Kurdish women were brutally murdered in front of the whole of Europe. The subsequent silence is collusion. I felt that if I accepted an award I would be a partner of this silence."

'I received a lot of support'

Öz said after he had made his declaration there had been shock in the hall, adding: "They weren't expecting it. I made a short speech and when it was fully understood I received a lot of support. The festival organisers too, said: 'If this has given you a platform it is a good thing'. This was an international festival, attended by directors and actors from all over the world. After I had made my announcement it began to be discussed. It was understood that my decision was not a sensational action, and that it was a political decision. I believe I was supported by the majority of the people there."

Öz said the following regarding his film: "This was the first festival showing for 'He bû Tune bû'. All the showings were well attended. The film fulfilled its mission. In a way the film explains the backdrop to the struggle waged by Sakine and her comrades. It is a film that tries to explain the Kurdish social and national reality. Millions of people in Turkey are involved as seasonal worker in the production of vegetables. A large proportion of them are Kurdish. They work from a young age in unbelievable inhuman conditions without insurance. We can call it quite simply modern slavery. What we call the Kurdish question continues to a certain extent based on these social contradictions. It is not something that can be resolved solely through new political talks. Without resolving the national, class and gender-based contradictions, without them being brought to an acceptable level, it will not be possible to find a solution to the Kurdish question. In this context the film is a drama about a family of seasonal workers."

Kazım Öz's rejection speech:

"The film which I directed, ‘He bû Tune bû’ (once upon a time) has been found worthy of a prize at your esteemed festival. However, I am afraid to say I will not be able to accept it. As you all know, last year three Kurdish women and political activists were brutally murdered in broad daylight in the middle of Paris. Despite it being more than a year since this massacre took place, European governments and judicial institutions have not done enough to resolve this crime. This has led to Kurds and other oppressed peoples losing confidence in Europe's values of democracy, justice and humanism. Intellectuals, artists and politicians in Europe have remained silent and not fulfilled their obligations regarding this massacre. This decision of mine is not one against those who have been organising this festival for many years."

(nt)