The inaugural recipient in 2008, legendary filmmaker Rob Nilsson will select a filmmaker who, in his judgment, opens up new territory, or transforms the old, with unique artistry and an eye for “the way things seem to be.”  The award will be given annually at VisionFest - presented by Filmmakers Alliance.

 

2011’s Nilsson Award recipient is Semih Kaplanoglu from Turkey.

Kaplanoğlu's first film, “Herkes Kendi Evinde” (Away From Home) won many awards participating at international film festivals. His second feature film “Meleğin Düşüşü” (Angel's Fall) premiered at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival and found wide interest by international film critics and audience. His film Yumurta (Egg) brought many international awards for best film, best director, best screenplay.

He founded his own film production company Kaplan Film. Its first feature film EGG was a co-production with Greece. Kaplanoğlu's film “Süt” (Milk) was released in Germany in January 2010, which with “Yumurta” (Egg) and the film “Bal” (Honey) produced in 2010, forms a trilogy called “Yusuf Üçlemesi” (Yusuf's Trilogy), named after the main character Yusuf of the films. His 2010 film, Bal won the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival.

 

Nilsson’s Commentary:  “"I first saw BAL, the Berlin Golden Bear winner in 2010, at the Golden Apricot Film Festival in Armenia.  I was impressed by its gentle lyricism, the poetic feel of forest and people, connection to family and to the land.  He opened my eyes to the Turkish heart, a universal heart but with the particular details of a culture I was unprepared to understand.  In America we hear about the Ottoman massacre of Armenians during World War I.  We have a LAWRENCE OF ARABIA view of Turks as implacable, cruel, unfeeling. 

But Semih's films show the everyday people of Turkey much like working people everywhere: struggling for a good life, hopeful, but not expecting too much from a world which is politicized into opposing camps, hostile divisions and violent confrontations. The people who do the work, create the arts and sciences, inspire the culture, grow the food and build the towns and cities don't care about  political dominance.  They look for peace and conciliation because that is the very thing the politicians can't provide for them, and is therefore in short supply. 

Semih's films are not simple.  They show the contradictions in human beings and human societies that all good art must confront.  But underneath it all his work exhibits an abiding love and respect for his characters' attempts to live out the human paradox with dignity and humility.  These are also characteristics of Semih Kaplanoglu, a man and an artist who doesn't need to rant and rave and play to the crowd to prove that he has talent.  His films do the work for him and his friendly and thoughtful demeanor make it a pleasure to know him.  It is a pleasure for me to be a fan of his and to have an award (thanks to the Filmmakers Alliance) to give to him in honor of his cinematic achievements."

 

Rob Nilsson: Nilsson has completed more than 30 feature films.  Awards include the Camera d’Or at Cannes (with John Hanson), the Grand Prize at the Sundance Film festival and the San Francisco Critic’s Circle Marlon Riggs Award for 9 @ Night, nine interlocking dramatic features about people on America’s rough edges.

Rob Nilsson