FÄ°LMBÜFE
Productions
Filmbüfe Productions has been established by Belmin Söylemez and HaÅŸmet TopaloÄŸlu in 2009. Based in Istanbul the company focuses on producing fiction and documentary film projects. Filmbüfe's first feature film 'Present Tense' by Belmin Söylemez has received several awards including 'New Director Prize' at San Francisco FF on its festival tour around the world. 'Mirror Mirror', second film by Belmin Söylemez is completed and the company is developing two feature documentary projects.
BELMÄ°N SÖYLEMEZ | Director
HAÅžMET TOPALOÄžLU | Producer
Born in Istanbul, Söylemez started working in films as assistant director to Bilge Olgaç, prominent female film director. She also worked as copy writer, editor, production coordinator for companies like ARD German TV (Istanbul Office) and BBA Independent Press Agency.
Her award-winning short films and documentaries such as 'Moustache', 'Waves', '34 Taxi' were screened at film festivals worldwide including Toronto IFF, and also shown at TV channels like ARTE France/Germany, SVT Sweden, YLE Finland, SBS Australia.
In 2012, she made her debut feature ‘Present Tense’ which had its international premiere at Sarajevo Film Festival. The film won ‘New Director Prize’ at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival, 'Best Actress Award' at Istanbul Film Festival, ‘Yılmaz Güney Special Jury Award’ and ‘Critics Award’ at Adana Golden Boll Film Festival.
She participated in the project ‘For Women by Women’ (Women Photographers Group from Turkey against domestic violence), fundraising for womens NGO’s. The group held fundraising exhibitions all over Turkey as well Washington, USA (2005-2006).
Söylemez’s films have also participated in exhibitions such as “Call Me Istanbul”, (ZKM, Karlsruhe Germany 2005) and `Free Kick` (9th Istanbul Biennial 2005), ‘Women Running with Wolves’ (Strasbourg France 2010).
Born in 1968. He worked as reporter/presenter for TV. He also wrote film critics for daily papers.
In 2007 he produced and co-directed the feature documentary ‘What a Beautiful Democracy!’ about women and politics (Istanbul, Sarajevo, Göteborg festivals and on ARTE Channel)
He co-founded Filmbüfe Productions with Belmin Söylemez. He co-wrote and produced the feature film “Present Tense”. The film has been screened at more than 30 festivals, won ‘Yılmaz Güney Award’ and ‘Critics Award’ in Adana FF Turkey and also won ‘New Director Prize’ at 56th San Francisco International FF.
Hasmet Topaloglu is a member of SEYAP (Film Producers Association) and BSB (Documentary Filmmakers Association), Istanbul-Turkey.