“Vavien” faces competition from top Golden Orange award-winning docu-feature “İki Dil Bir Bavul” (On the Way to School), by co-directors Orhan Eskiköy and Özgür Doğan, “Hayat Var” (My Only Sunshine) by Reha Erdem, “Süt” (Milk) by Semih Kaplanoğlu and “Pandora’nın Kutusu” (Pandora’s Box) by Yeşim Ustaoğlu in the best motion picture category at this year’s SİYAD Awards, which will be announced at a ceremony on Jan. 31 at İstanbul’s Beşiktaş Cultural Center (BKM). “Vavien” has become the second film in 10 years to earn nominations for all categories in the SİYAD Awards since Tomris Giritlioğlu’s 1999 drama “Salkım Hanım’ın Taneleri” (Mrs. Salkım’s Diamonds) swept nominations in 2000. All but one of the best picture nominees were also nominated in the best director category, the exception being the directors of “İki Dil Bir Bavul,” who were bumped by Derviş Zaim for “Nokta” (Dot).
Starting this year, the SİYAD award for the most promising artist of the year will be named after filmmaker Ahmet Uluçay, who died in November 2009.
The nominees for the best screenplay award are Reha Erdem for “Hayat Var,” Yılmaz Erdoğan for “Neşeli Hayat” (A Cheerful Life), Engin Günaydın for “Vavien,” İnan Temelkuran for “Bornova Bornova” and Ustaoğlu and Sema Kaygusuz for “Pandora’nın Kutusu.” SİYAD hands out awards in a total of 13 categories such as best film, director, screenplay, editing, art direction and in four acting categories as well as the best documentary and short film awards. A total of 20 films from among the more than 50 titles released throughout 2009 have been nominated in various categories.
