The press conference for the Turkish film “Creating a Man,” directed by Murat Çeri, was held on Sunday, 30 November at Honar Shahr Aftab Cineplex in Shiraz. Competing in the International Competition of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival, the film follows a playwright who begins to live out the fate of the character he created, raising questions about madness, destiny, and the thin line between art and life. The cast includes Engin Altan Düzyatan, Altan Erkekli, Serpil Tamur, Deniz Barut, İsmail Hakkı, and Caner Topçu.
Çeri opened the session by reflecting on the origins of the film. “This is my second feature. The film is based on a play written over 80 years ago by a prominent Turkish poet and staged by a Turkish director. I was so inspired that I decided to adapt it to cinema without making any changes. The play had been performed 37 times, and I felt it was important to respect the original work,” he said.
Discussing the cultural and poetic foundations of his work, Çeri added, “In our cinema, poetry is essential. Making films without it is difficult. Europeans try to diminish poetry’s impact on us, but we must preserve these cultural influences. We think about Eastern philosophy, mysticism, and the environment. These values must be passed to our children; if we fail, we risk losing them. Cinema can help protect culture, nature, and our dreams.”
The press session also included remarks from the cast. Actor Caner Topçu said, “I am happy to be here. I am 28 and have been on stage since I was 18. Iranian and Turkish cultures are closely connected, and I am glad to attend this festival.” Deniz Barut added, “I am delighted to be in Iran. I have long admired Iranian cinema through Abbas Kiarostami. Since this festival focuses on poetic cinema, and our film is also poetic, it is a pleasure to be here in this city intertwined with poetry.” İsmail Hakkı noted, “I was born in Konya and now live in Istanbul. Being in Shiraz, the city of Hafez and Saadi, is wonderful. Residents of cities carry the character of the poets they nurture, from Shiraz to Konya. I appreciate the warmth and beauty of the people here.”
Çeri concluded the press session by emphasizing his cinematic philosophy: “I am working on visual poetry, which is why this festival is important for me. Our expression must align with conscience. If, through cinema, we can preserve a region or the environment, that is remarkable. I appreciate the festival’s poetic approach. I could have attended other festivals, but I preferred FIFF. I am glad to be here and hope to collaborate with Iran in the future. I also thank the actors for their dedication; this film had no personal or corporate budget and was supported by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism.”
The 43rd Fajr International Film Festival is currently underway in Shiraz, running from November 26 to December 3, 2025.
