TRT announcer to director supporting arrested students: Stateless terrorists

The “From Captivity to Courage Film Festival” award ceremony held in Ankara became the scene of great controversy due to TRT announcer Oya Eren Özkan’s interruption of a speech on stage and her subsequent behavior.

24-year-old director of the production "Wolves", which won the "Best Fiction Film" award at the festival, Ecre Begüm Bayrak, commemorated the imprisoned students and Grup Yorum in her speech on stage.

During Bayrak's speech, the ceremony's presenter, TRT newsreader Oya Eren Özkan, intervened and interrupted the speech, saying, "Let's not give a political message."

"I CANNOT CONTINUE TO PRESENT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS" As Ecre Begüm Bayrak was leaving the stage, Özkan left the microphone and said, "I cannot continue to present under these conditions."

The audience, jury members and directors present at the festival reacted to the incidents. According to Bianet and BirGün news, Özkan was seen insulting people backstage and in the foyer area with expressions such as "dishonorable people", "bloodless dogs", "stateless terrorists" and making the "grey wolf" sign towards some people.

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE: “UNACCEPTABLE INTERVENTION” The festival committee released a written statement following the incidents. The statement included the following statements: “Director Ecre Begüm Bayrak was subjected to a personal, excessive and unfair reaction from the presenter, which we did not expect.”

"During the award ceremony of the From Captivity to Courage Film Festival held in Ankara on the night of May 30, Ecre Begüm Bayrak, the director of the film Wolves, who was invited to the stage to receive the Best Fiction Film award, was unexpectedly subjected to a personal, excessive and unfair reaction from the presenter during her speech after receiving the award.

Due to the courageous subject matter of the film Wolves and the effective narration, editing technique and cinematography of the film, the pre-jury and jury members of the festival unanimously gave the Best Film Award, the director's film was screened and he was personally invited to Ankara by the festival director to receive the award.

We would like to share with the public and short filmmakers that the presenter's reaction to our guest, a young short filmmaker, has nothing to do with the festival management or the institutions supporting the festival, and we hope that from now on, artists will not be subject to reactions due to their works and opinions at artistic events.

We would like to inform all art lovers that our stance that art and the artist's freedom of self-expression cannot be restricted has not changed and will not change."

The committee stated that the young director was personally invited to the festival and that the award of his film was determined by the decision of the jury, and emphasized that they stood against pressure and censorship against artists.

ECRE BEGÜM BAYRAK: “I WAS ATTACKED, I AM VERY SAD AND ANGRY” Making a statement about what happened, director Ecre Begüm Bayrak claimed that she was insulted and physically attacked after she left the stage. Bayrak, who stated that the doors were closed and a scuffle broke out, spoke as follows:

"An atmosphere where art is censored and artists are hesitant to speak out needs to be criticized. It is my most natural right to speak out against the censorship of Grup Yorum. I am very sad and angry about this attack I have been subjected to."

TRT ANNOUNCER: “REACTION TO FAKE PATRIOTS” As the discussions grew, TRT announcer Oya Eren Özkan made a statement on her social media account. Stating that she will file insult lawsuits, Özkan said that she will donate the compensations to be won to the Mehmetçik Foundation.

Source: News Center