First feature program at Istanbul Modern

Istanbul Modern Cinema will present My First Feature, a program focusing on the debut features filmed by current directors at the start of their careers, between April 20 and 23.

The selection features four films by the unusual director of French cinema Claire Simon, who has been working across different genres ranging from documentary to fiction for 20 years and has always tried to capture the essence of reality.

The program includes Simon’s first feature-length documentary, “The Patients,” in which she follows her father’s best friend, Dr. Bouvier, a few months before his retirement and shows the compassion with which this experienced doctor approaches his patients. Also featured in the program are her films “God’s Offices” and “Gare du Nord.” 

Another film to be screened in My First Feature will be “Private Madness” by Belgian director Joachim Lafosse, which was nominated for the Golden Leopard at the Locarno film festival in 2004. A conversation with Simon is also included in the program.

On April 20, Simon will be present after the screening of “God’s Offices” for a conversation on her cinema at 5:15 p.m. 

On April 23, the producer of “Private Madness,” Eric Van Zuylen, will be present after the screening of the film for a conversation on Joachim Lafosse’s cinema at 5:45 p.m.

April/17/2017  HDN