ISTANBUL - The Council of Europe will award a director whose film raises public awareness and interest in human rights issues the best at the second Film Award of the Council of Europe (FACE) under the 27th Istanbul International Film Festival.
This year, ten films are competing in the human rights category. Both documentaries and feature films are eligible for the prize which will be presented on April 19th in Istanbul.
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, will present the prize ? which consists of a bronze sculpture and a cash prize of 10,000 euros ? on behalf of Secretary General Terry Davis.
This will be the second FACE award presented to an outstanding human rights film. Last year's winner was ''Bamako''/''The Court'', directed by Abderrahmane Sissako.
With the FACE award the Council of Europe aims to reflect it's commitment to both cinema and cultural diversity, and a recognition of the contribution the world of cinema can play in developing human rights worldwide.
The FACE award is an annual collaboration between the International Istanbul Film Festival and the Council of Europe.
-NOMINATED FILMS-
Nick Broomfield's (UK) documental-drama --depicting the events in November 2005 when U.S. marines allegedly massacred 24 civilians including children and women in a small village called Haditha in Iraq-- , The Mark of Cain directed by Marc Munden (UK) -- exploring guilt on many levels in the shadow of the Abu Ghraib incidents in Iraq-- and Lucky Miles directed by Michael James Rowland of Australia --a bitter-sweet comedy throwing Iraqi and Cambodian refugees, human smugglers and border-patrol soldiers into the Australian outback and following them through their epic journey-- are some of the films that are competing for the FACE award.
Handan Ipekci's film "Sakli Yuzler" will represent Turkey in the competition for Face award.
(OZG-MS)