The movie "Life" was screened at the "Hollywood-Turkish Film and Drama Days", which was organised at Sony Studios in Los Angeles, California, by the Directorate of Communications and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
A number of Turkish actors participated in the event, designed to showcase the rich texture of Turkish culture to foreign audiences in the United States through the lens of cinema while also highlighting the influence of Turkish cinema within the international community.
The event was organised with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with OGM Pictures serving as the main sponsor.
On the first day of the event, the premiere of Zeki Demirkubuz's "Life," Türkiye's nominee for Best International Film at the 2025 Academy Awards (Oscars), brought together industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts. Demirkubuz and the lead actors, Cem Davran, Miray Daner and Burak Dakak attended the premiere.
Devran told the AA correspondent, "Dear Zeki Demirkubuz's Life is our country's Oscar nominee. There will be several screenings for everyone to watch, and hopefully, we aim to progress gradually towards the finals. I hope that we will achieve the best outcome to date, which is precisely why we are here."
Actress Daner expressed her delight about the lovely evening, stating, "I am thrilled and overjoyed to be with you and to watch our film, Life. We made a film that resonates with us, thanks to the guidance of Zeki Demirkubuz, a highly esteemed director with whom many idealistic actors aspire to work. The feedback on the movie has been very good. "Our audience thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and the positive feedback we got is very valuable."
Actor Akın Akınözü conveyed his gratitude for the invitation to the event and emphasised the widespread appeal of Turkish drama series internationally. Akınözü stated, "I believe that Anatolian lands are exceptionally well-suited for drama. We have very powerful stories. As feelings are universal, we have honed the ability to convey our local culture universally."
Mohamed Hadid, the father of world-famous Palestinian-American models Bella and Gigi Hadid, together with Keni Silva, also spoke with an AA correspondent.
Mohamed Hadid and Keni Silva remarked that they are huge admirers of Turkish cinema and history and are thrilled that the film has been nominated for an Oscar.
In response to a question on the situation in Palestine, Mohamed Hadid stated, "It's sad, as you know, it's very sad what is happening now, and I hope it will be a better place in the near future."
Actress Dilan Çiçek Deniz said, ''I am very excited to see the film Life; it brings me joy that Turkish films are being screened on a global scale; at the same time, it places a great deal of responsibility on me and likewise inspires me.''
Brazilian actress Luciana Faulhaber remarked, ''I believe it is an important time to stay together, be with our community, find a place to call home away from our homeland and cherish art from wherever it comes. A significant amount of artistic richness is emerging from beyond the borders of the United States."
Event chairperson Barbaros Tapan wished the movie "Life" success as it embarks on its journey to the Oscars. Tapan said, "We want to continue and celebrate the Hollywood Turkish Film and Drama Days, which have brought together the Turkish movie and TV series industry for the fourth consecutive year. We will expand it even more, and I want to express my gratitude to our Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in particular, and to all the organisations that support us."
Tapan highlighted that Turkish films and TV series have started to make significant strides in establishing themselves as a global brand, adding:
''Particularly in the television series industry, we currently possess a substantial framework that holds the second position in certain areas and the third in others, trailing only the United States globally. We should take pride in that. Naturally, we desire the same for the cinema as well. I believe that many young people from Türkiye will go to these kinds of events so that they can make their voices heard through documentaries, short films, and festivals."