Istanbul: An unprecedented city who combines east and west, and who offers infinite freedom. The region with a multicultural atmosphere and incredible population.
Istanbul – OIC Youth Capital 2015/16 International Programme conducted by ICYF was presented on 14 December 2015 to the international guests visiting Istanbul Aydin University. Young students from Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, Turkey as well as Germany, Italy, Romania, Lithuania and Gerogia were informed about the background and aims of the Programme and also activities being held in this framework. Mr. Elmaddin Mehdiyev, ICYF Chief of Cabinet who made the detailed presentation discussed with participants in the Q&A section the current problems and challanges Muslim youth are facing. The session has ended with demonstration of the short film “Mama” – the winner of the “Y-Istanbul the 1st OIC Youth Capital Short Film Awards”.
The delegation of the ICYF Secretariat representing the OIC Youth Capital Selection Committee visited Shiraz (IRI) – the candidate city for the OIC Youth Capital 2017 on 28-30 August 2016. In the framework of the visit the delegation held working meetings with the representatives of the Fars Province and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Islamic Republic of Iran and examined the facilities of the city for hosting the OIC Youth Capital Programme in 2017. Mr. Seyed Mohammad Ali Afshani, the Governor of the Fars Province of Iran received the delegation on 29 August and reiterated full readiness of the city for hosting such an important international programme serving development and unity of youth of the OIC geography. Mr. Elmaddin Mehdiyev, Director General of Cabinet of ICYF on behalf of the ICYF leadership and Secretariat thanked the Governor for interest to host the programme in Shiraz and conveyed the satisfaction of the delegation with high interest towards the programme and facilities of the city. The visit ended up with signing of the Protocol containing the commitment of the city of Shiraz to host the progamme in 2017 and defining the roles and responsibilities of the parties in case of selection of Shiraz as the OIC Youth Capital 2017.
Shiraz is one of the 4 candidate cities to host the OIC Youth Capital 2017, along with Putrajaya (Malaysia), Bandung (Indonesia) and Fez (Morocco).
Isfahan, July 1, IRNA – Deputy head of Isfahan province Department of Sports and Youth for Cultural and Youth Affairs on Wednesday announced candidacy of Isfahan city for capital of the World Muslim Youth in year 2016.
Mohammad Masoud Karimi told IRNA that Iran intends to introduce a candidate for the capital of the Muslim World in 2016.
He said Tabriz, Mashad, Shiraz and Hamedan are among the candidates.
‘Different standards and norms have been taken for the candidate city.’
Karimi said that Isfahan has all standards and added that in 2006 Isfahan was introduced as cultural capital of the Muslim World and in year 2009 as Islamic Iran cultural and civilization capital. He said that Isfahan has sisterhood treaty with 14 cities of the world. Istanbul was introduced as capital of the Muslim World Youth in year 2015.
The winners of ‘Y-Istanbul’ international short film awards themed ‘Youth Creativity for Global Solutions’, organised by the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation within the framework of the Istanbul 1st OIC Youth Capital programme, have been announced
Istanbul hosted the international short film awards as the city was chosen the first ‘OIC Youth Capital’ upon its nomination by the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF) – an Istanbul based international organisation representing the youth organisations and youth councils of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States. Y-Istanbul Short Film Awards were presented to its winners at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall during the closing ceremony of the 3rdInternational Bosphorus Film Festival.
The film of Ahmet Bikiç from Turkey, titled ‘Mama’ won the grand prize of Y-Istanbul 1st OIC Youth Capital Film Awards. ‘Believe in Yourself’ by Guzel Usmanova from Tatarstan was awarded with the 2nd place, while the Spanish director Daniel Hernández Torraso won the 3rd place with his movie ‘Why?’. The special prize was given to ‘Beautiful City’ by Soheil Sadeghi from Iran.
1000 film submissions from all around the world
The young directors taking part in the Y-İstanbul Film Awards produced short films on the issues of ‘refugees’, ‘youth participation’, ‘forced radicalism and terrorism’, ‘globalisation and ethical challenges’. The Film Awards received applications from 57 countries including Iran, Sweden, India, Brazil, Comoros, People’s Republic of China, France, Spain, Cambodia, Lithuania and Turkey amongst others.
The films were reviewed by a jury of 5 members Adrian Tofei, Dzemal Latic, Franzi Zajc, Musa Akgül and Sevinj Iskandarova, jointly identified by ICYF-DC and International Bosphorus Cinema Association. 12 shortlisted films from 10 different countries were presented to viewers in public screenings at Tarık Zafer Tunaya Cultural Centre as part of the 3rd International Bosphorus Film Festival.
The award winning films are available on the Facebook page and Youtube channel of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum.
www.facebook.com/oic.youth
www.youtube.com/OICYouth
About the Award Winning Films and Directors:
Mama – Ahmet Bikiç – Turkey
This film has been inspired by a drawing on an orphanage ground done by a child who lost his mother in the Middle East. The wars on-going in the Middle East for many years have separated countless families causing children to end up in orphanages. After the war, the children who grew up with fear and hatred keep these memories alive all their lives.
Ahmet Bikiç was born in Mardin in 1980. He worked as a photographer and cameraman for many years. He received cinema education at Mardin City Film House. In 2010, he completed his studies at Istanbul Kültür University, Faculty of Arts and Design, Department of Communication Design as a full scholarship student. He started to work for the R&D Centre of the same university. He acted as a director and cinema photographer in numerous documentaries and short films. He opened solo and group exhibitions. He is currently doing his postgraduate studies in Communication Design Module at Istanbul Kültür University Social Sciences Institute while continuing his documentary and short film works.
Believe in yourself – Guzel Usmanova – Tatarstan
This film describes 4 talented young people: a girl who loves to dance, another one who wants to sing, the one who wants to be a public speaker and a guy who dreams about creating gadgets, works hard on themselves to transform these abilities into a talent.
Guzel Usmanova was born in Russia in 1983. Following her graduation from Kazan University she received her MBA degree from the US. She chaired the Selet Foundation. For the last 5 years she has been engaged in various productions as a director.
Why – Daniel Hernández Torrado – Spain
This sarcastic film stands for peace and against violence. Produced as an expression of gratuity to the innocent victims of terror, the film takes a critical stance towards violation of human rights for the sake of any flag.
Daniel Hernández Torrado was born in Madrid. He has extensive experience in the field and directed numerous short films. He took part in many national and international festivals. He continues to work as a free-lancer cinema photographer.
Beautiful City – Soheil Sadeghi – Iran
The film introduces us the story of a young person who is concerned about his city while keeping his hopes for its development. The film is in Persian language and the cast speaks a local dialect of Mashhad city, the second biggest city of Iran that has been named as 2017 Capital of Islamic Culture. Due to language differences, there were challenges in the translation of local dialect.
Soheil Sadeghi was born in 1989. He took part in numerous projects. He worked on animation and documentary films at the cultural department of Mashhad municipality.
About ICYF-DC:
Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC) is an Istanbul-based international organisation affiliated to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) of 57 Member States, and it represents the youth organisations and youth councils of the OIC states. ICYF-DC aims at carrying out advocacy for youth interests, supporting sustainable development, promoting formal and non-formal education, strengthening moral values of young generation and engaging in the dialogue among cultures and civilizations.
On 3-4 February, Shiraz, as a host city, was held openning ceremony of the Shiraz – OIC Youth Capital 2017, an important international programme serving development and unity of youth of the OIC geography. Upcoming events of Shiraz-OIC Youth Capital, along with Putrajaya (Malaysia), presented to distinguished guests and youth Representatives of OIC Member States. The ceremony started with presentation of “Flag Raising Ceremony” and “Key to Shiraz” to youth and concluded with the signing of the roadmap of the Shiraz – OIC Youth Capital between Shiraz Authorities and ICYF.