Please allow me to welcome all of you to the Sarajevo Film Festival and the Competition Programme Reception supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

This is an important anniversary for Turkish Cinema which is celebrating its Centenary year. Yes, Turkish cinema is 100 years old. I congratulate everyone affiliated with Turkish cinema including the industry, producers, directors, actors, some of whom are represented here tonight. I also wholeheartedly welcome Mr. Halit Ergenç who needs no introduction. And I must say that Turkish Cinema is going through a true renaissance that can easily be observed with the awards it is winning like Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “Winter Sleep” that won the Palm D’or in Cannes and which was featured this afternoon.

Taking this opportunity I would like to thank Mr. Mirsad Purinatra ve Sayın and Ms. Selma Tataragic for their wonderful leadership of the Sarajevo Film Festival. I had heard about the Festival previously and now after arriving in Sarajevo I have witnessed for myself the variety and dynamism of this festival which really transforms the city. Also a Word of thanks to Mr. Mesut Can Erkul ( General Director of Cinema/ Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism) and Dr. Ahmet Boyacıoğlu (Ankara Cinema Association) for assuring such a strong Turkish presence this year which has become traditional by now and which I am sure is going to continue in the future as well.

So happy birthday again to Turkish cinema and have a good night.