Many French and Turkish personalities and two dozen journalists were present on Wednesday, May 18, at the premiere of "Turkish Passport" by director Burak Arliel during the 64th Cannes Film Festival. The premiere was organized by the Aladdin Project in partnership with Interfilm Istanbul, the Jewish Community of Turkey and the French Committee for Yad Vashem.
A large delegation had travelled from Istanbul to attend the screening of the film, which tells the little-known story of Turkish diplomats in Nazi-occupied France who saved hundreds of Jews from deportation and death.
The president of the Aladdin Project, Anne-Marie Revcoleschi, congratulated director Burak Arliel, producers Gunes Celikcan and Bahadir Arliel and project director Yael Habif for producing the first docudrama about the Holocaust in a predominantly Muslim country. She also thanked Istanbul Bahcesehir University and Tekfen Foundation, the films partners, for financing the production of Turkish Passport.
"By supporting Turkish Passport, the Aladdin Project pursues the goals it has set itself since its inception: to raise awareness of Holocaust history among peoples who were not directly affected by this dark chapter of human history, and also promote intercultural dialogue and rapprochement, tolerance and understanding of each other," Revcolevschi said.
In a packed theatre, Mina Ozdoganci, daughter of Fikret Ozdoganci, Consul General of Turkey in France from 1942 to 1944, who participated in the rescue by putting in place from February to May 1944, 8 trains bound for Istanbul, was clearly overcome by emotion. At her side, Nisso Barbouth shared the same emotion: as a boy in Nazi-occupied Paris, he had accompanied his mother and two brothers on one of the Istanbul-bound trains organized by Minas father.
Ambassador Ertan Tezgor, representative of Turkey to the "Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research," addressed the audience stressing that Turkey was proud of the action of its diplomats in several European countries who saved the lives of Jews during the war. This action, he said, was in continuity with a long-standing tradition that had its roots in 1492, when the Ottoman sultan welcomed the Jews expelled from Spain during the Inquisition.
Michele Merowka, Representative of the French Committee for Yad Vashem, recalled that some of these diplomats had been recognized by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and received the title of
"Righteous Among the Nations".
Many Turkish personalities and representatives of the Jewish community, including Mario Levi, vice president of the executive board of the Jewish Community of Turkey, Naim Güleryüz, president of the Jewish Museum in Istanbul, Haluk Gürgen of Istanbul Bahcesehir University, Sekib Avdagic, chairman of Istanbul European Capital of Culture, attended the screening along with Martine Ouaknine, Deputy Mayor of Nice representing Mayor Christian Estrosi; Councillor Genevieve Koubi, representing the Mayor of Cannes Bernard Brochand, and Councillor Eliane Zayan, representing the Mayor of Marseilles Jean-Claude Gaudin.
Several diplomats, including Berris Ekinci, Consul General of Turkey in Marseille, Turgut Kural, cultural counsellor at the Turkish Embassy in Paris, Dr. Ilham Aygun, Honorary Consul of Turkey in Monaco, Michel Harel, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Israel in France and Jean-Dominique Leraci, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Canada in France, also attended the screening.
Before the screening began, director Burak Arliel told the audience that his goal was to show that human values must transcend all religious, ethnic and cultural divides, and pay homage to those brave individuals who did not allow themselves to stagnate in indifference and apathy in the face of the suffering of others.
When the lights went on again, the audience showed a huge appreciation by giving a long standing ovation to the film director and the producers.
TR
