Turkish actor Haluk Bilginer's film not screened at festival in latest censorship row

A 22-minute short film starring famous Turkish actor Haluk Bilginer is at the center of the latest censorship row in Turkey, after its directors refused to cut parts of it in line with the demands of the authorities.

"The Last Schnitzel" was due to be screened at the !f Istanbul Independent Film Festival on Feb. 16. It was not screened as the Istanbul Copyrights and Cinema Directorate did not provide an operation license for the film after its directors, İsmet Kurtuluş and Kaan Arıcı, refused to edit certain sections demanded. 

The directorate responded to the directors' application on Feb. 10 but details of the sections it wanted to be cut were not made clear. 

The film's plot focuses on a Turkish president living in a dystopian future who demands to eat a Schnitzel as his last earthly desire before leaving the Earth for Mars following an international U.N. call to evacuate the planet.

Continue reading on: