Close Up: Istanbul
Millions of turkish people live in Germany and millions of Germans spend their holidays in Turkey. "Hardly any other country is as close to Germany and as foreign as Turkey," wrote a German correspondent recently - after his expulsion. At the latest since the failed military coup in 2016, Turkey has transformed itself into an autocratic state. Independent justice, freedom of speech and freedom of press doesn't really exist anymore. Istanbul, the traditional metropolis, heart and brain of Turkey - never before have the students and teachers of television journalism embarked on a CLOSE UP trip with such mixed feelings. The travel warnings were just as well-known as Erdogan's rigorous treatment of journalists. Close-ups of the "millennium city" were taken. None of the films could avoid the political reality. Stories are told in reports, portraits and analyses. Of a country that is so close to us and at the same time so foreign.
CLOSE UP: ISTANBUL / ISTANBUL – MILLENNIUM CITY
Deutschland 2019 – Director: David Preute – Original language: English, Turkish – Subtitles: English – Length: 11 min.
The city of Istanbul looks back on a long and eventful history. The former mayor Erdoğan wants to restore it to the old Ottoman splendour and make Istanbul into a millennium city. But his great vision does not appeal to all Turks.
German title: DIE JAHRTAUSENDSTADT. Camera: Elisabeth Kratzer, Vera Brückner. Editing: David Preute. Production: HFF München. Producer: HFF München.
CLOSE UP: ISTANBUL / HEUTE NICHT IN DEN NACHRICHTEN
Deutschland 2019 – Director: Franziska Brozio – Original language: English, Turkish – Length: 23 min.
In Turkey, a journalist’s life is not easy, at least if your opinion is not that of the government. In Istanbul I met those journalists who are activists by heart as well as those, who are usually not very interested in news of protests and the critique of the opposition.
English/Original Title: CLOSE UP: ISTANBUL / NOT IN THE NEWS TONIGHT. Camera: Franziska Brozio. Editing: Franziska Brozio. Production: HFF München. Producer: HFF München.
CLOSE UP: ISTANBUL / FRAMEWORK OF ART
Deutschland 2019 – Director: Elisabeth Kratzer – Original language: English, Turkish – Length: 15 min.
“Istanbul – The most inspiring city in the world“ was the slogan of the European Capital of Culture 2010. But the open-minded and free city has changed over the past years. Self-censorship is seen as a form of protection as well as a possibility to show other perspectives of thinking.
German title: ISTANBUL IM RAHMEN DER KUNST. Camera: Elisabeth Kratzer, David Preute. Editing: Elisabeth Kratzer. Production: HFF München. Producer: HFF München.
CLOSE UP: ISTANBUL / ORTA OYUNU
Deutschland 2019 – Director: Rabelle Erian – Original language: Turkish – Length: 20 min.
Aydin Engin, journalist and former editor-in-chief of the opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet, is facing trial for reporting on the current political situation in Turkey. Engin (79) keeps on fighting resolutely for democracy. A portrait of a man who echoes the history of the Republic.
English/Original Title: A RE-ENACTMENT WITH AYDIN ENGIN. German title: EINE INSZENIERTE UNTERHALTUNG MIT AYDIN ENGIN. Camera: Rabelle Erian, Felizitas Hoffmann. Editing: Rabelle Erian. Production: HFF München. Producer: HFF München.
CLOSE UP: ISTANBUL / KADININ SESI
Deutschland 2019 – Director: Vera Brückner – Original language: English, Turkish – Length: 18 min.
Istanbul, a city split on two continents. The West observed Turkey’s recent political changes sceptically. The demonstration on International Women’s Day in 2019 was the biggest so far. How does it feel for women today living in such a contrary city?
English/Original Title: THE VOICE OF THE WOMEN. German title: DIE STIMME DER FRAU. Camera: Vera Brückner, Elisabeth Kratzer, Felizitas Hoffmann, Franziska Brozio. Editing: Vera Brückner. Production: HFF München. Producer: HFF München.
CLOSE UP: ISTANBUL / THE MEETING IN THE CORNER BY THE WINDOW
Deutschland 2019 – Director: Felizitas Hoffmann – Original language: English, Turkish – Length: 10 min.
Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, a visual artist, and Berge Arabian, a photographer, are only somewhat acquainted. They've always wanted to meet and talk. As it happens, their encounter is in the corner by the window. They start speaking and one topic leads to another. A conversation about identity, memory and personal experiences expressed in art and life in Istanbul.
Camera: Felizitas Hoffmann, Rabelle Erian, Elisabeth Kratzer, David Preute, Vera Brückner, Franziska Brozio. Editing: Felizitas Hoffmann. Music: Dominik Obalski. Production: HFF München. Producer: HFF München.
CLOSE UP: ISTANBUL / DIE SAMSTAGSMÜTTER
Deutschland 2019 – Director: David Preute – Original language: English, Turkish – Subtitles: English – Length: 11 min.
Since 1995, the Saturday Mothers have been demonstrating at the gates of the Galatasaray High School in Istanbul. They want justice for their family members who have disappeared in police custody. But since 25 August 2018 their protest has been officially banned.
English/Original Title: SATURDAY MOTHERS. Camera: Elisabeth Kratzer, Vera Brückner. Editing: David Preute. Production: HFF München. Producer: HFF München.
HFF area TV journalism
Madeleine Müller worked for 15 years as an editor and head of the service for various production companies and television stations. Her heart project is the children and youth program. Since 2017 she has been working as an artistic-scientific assistant in the field of television journalism at the HFF with Prof. Claus Richter.
HFF area TV journalism
Prof. Dr. Claus Richter was foreign correspondent and studio leader first for the ARD in Warsaw, New York and East Berlin, then for the ZDF in Singapore and Moscow. He became chief correspondent and took over the management of the new ZDF political magazine Frontal 21 in 2001. Since 2014 he has been chairing the department of television journalism at the HFF Munich.
