April is one of the best months to visit Istanbul with full of surprises. The weather can be uncertain, but from the flowers around, you will feel the spring has arrived.

1 – 29th Istanbul International Film Festival

This year it will be held between 3-18 April  and we will start to wait for the ticket queues, spend time at cafes around theaters and try to catch the ferry to catch the film on different side of Europe or Asia; in any case we will enjoy our days very much by this festival. Tickets are available through internet by biletix and at the theaters in Beyoğlu and Kadikoy. 

2 – David Guetta concert on 10th of April

Grammy awarded music star David Guetta is coming to Istanbul for a great concert which will be held at Kücükciftlik Park at Maçka and we are ready to sing the ” I got a feeling” under the stars. (Hopefully if it doesn’t rain!).

3 -  23rd of April National Sovereignty and Children’s day

Another unique event in Turkey & Istanbul. It is a national holiday gifted to children by the founder of Turkish Republic – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Different ceremonies throughout Turkey are held and also many children from other countries join these ceremonies.

4 -  WWE Smackdown show

This is the first time we welcome the wrestlers in İstanbul. They will be in Istanbul as per Wrestle Mania Revenge Tour on 18th of April at Abdi İpekçi sports center, if you are interested you need to hurry up, tickets are available at
biletix

Here in Istanbul autumn is back and we are ready to welcome the autumn film festival between October 17 -25. This year festival is extended to include two weekends because of its success last year with 33,500 viewers and a capacity of 99 %. 

Emek Movie Theater hosts the festival and if you have not bought your ticket earlier, you should be at Emek, at least half an hour before the film and wait for the “reserved tickets” to be sold at the last minute.

We tried to give some tips about this year’s program as below; you can check the whole program here.

 1 – White Ribbon / Michael Haneke

One of the hit films of this festival is White Ribbon from Michael Haneke with three awards. This dark film focuses on a rural German school in 1913, which seems to be the sight of ritual punishment. If you are a fan of Haneke you must not miss this masterpiece. Imdb note is 8,3 /10

2 -  Che Part One – Che Part Two / Steve Soderbergh

Another film with three awards and 8 nominations, produced in 7 years with partnerships of Benici Del Torro and Steven Soderbergh. Interesting life story of Che has two sessions; part one named ‘ The Argentine’ and part two is ‘ Guerrilla ‘. Imdb note is 7,4 /10.

3 – Whatever Works / Woody Allen

Latest film of Woody Allen, at last he came back to New York streets. An eccentric New Yorker played by Larry David abandons his upper class life to lead a more bohemian existence. He meets a young girl from the south and her family and no two people seem to get along in the entanglements that follow. Imdb note is 7,7 /10

4 – Don’t look back / Marina de Van

A psychodrama about a photographer whose pictures tell a different story to that of her perception from two great actresses Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci.

These are just the highlights; there are many other hit films in this festival. You can buy tickets from biletix on Internet or from Emek movie theater in Beyoğlu. Ticket sales had started on 3rd of October that you may not find tickets for some of the popular films, don’t worry keep in mind that if you wait at the queue, half an hour before the scheduled time of your film, you can buy a ticket.

In movie theaters, most of the films are screened in original language with Turkish subtitles. Some popular films may need early reservation especially for their first screening days.

There are three major film festivals in Istanbul – the most traditional one is “Istanbul International Film Festival” (first two weeks of April); the other two are “If Istanbul” (in mid February) and “Filmekimi” (in mid October). Most of the Beyoglu theaters host the films during the festivals; and it’s highly recommended to watch the exceptional movies there.

1 – Istinye AFM Park Imax:
One of the newest movie theater complex in Istanbul in Istinye Park Mall with Imax technology. Click here for info about Istinye Park Mall.

2 – Kanyon Levent Cinebonus:
Another modern movie theater complex in Kanyon Mall. Click here for info about Kanyon Mall.

3 – Beyoğlu Emek:
The nostalgic temple of film festivals also offering seats in the balcony. It’s on Yeşilçam Street which is on the right of Istiklal Street before Galatasaray when you walk from Taksim.

4 – Rexx Kadıköy:
It’s one of the most crowded meeting spots in Kadıköy for Anatolian side residents, very close to the “street of bars”. The newly renovated theater no.1 can be recommended. Adress: Sakizgulu Street No.22.