Since 2001, the !f Istanbul International Independent Film Festival has provided Istanbul cinephiles with the opportunity to see independent films from all corners of the globe, by well-known and emerging directors alike. The !f Festival – which also occurs yearly in Ankara, and, starting this year, in İzmir as well – will be running in Istanbul between the 16th and the 26th of February.

The categories for the films in !f Istanbul are different every year; this year’s categories are as follows: !f Inspired, Hit Films, !f Music, Fantastic Films, People Power, Rainbow Films, Home, Trip, e-xperiments, !f Cult, Insomnia, !f Special Screenings, ACID 20BDay, Spotlight on Sundance, and !f Shorts.

Highlights of the festival include UK filmmaker James Marsh’s 2011 documentary Project Nim, about the famous signing chimpanzee Nim Chimpsky; Tamer Ezzat, Ayten Amin, and Amr Salama’s Tahrir 2011: The Good, the Bad and the Politician, about last year’s political upheaval in Egypt; past films by award-winning directors like Thailand’s Apichatpong Weerasethakul; and many more.

The eight films in the !f Inspired category, all by emerging directors, will also be in competition for a prize for Most Inspired Director, judged by a jury consisting of Turkish director Yeşim Ustaoğlu, film critics Andrea Picard and Mark Adams, critic/director Jonathan Caouette, and Egyptian actor/activist Khaled Abol Naga; the winner will receive a prize of $15,000.

This year the main films in the !f Festival will be screened at the following Istanbul cinemas: AFM Budak Caddebostan, AFM Fitaş (Salons 1 and 4), AFM İstinyePark, and Cinebonus Maçka G-Mall. A full program is available on the !f Istanbul website, along with detailed descriptions of the films being screened. In addition, there will be a series of special screenings, talks, panels, workshops, and concerts over the course of the festival, at various Istanbul clubs, restaurants, galleries, and cultural centers. Information about these events can be found on the !f Istanbul website.

Tickets range from 7 TL to 16 TL, and can be purchased starting February 3rd at www.mybilet.com (where there is a 10\% early bird discount from the 3rd to the 5th); by credit card starting February 6th at Turkuazzo and most AFM locations throughout the city; and by cash or credit card starting February 11th at the cinemas where the films will be screened (except for Cinebonus Maçka G-Mall, where they will be sold on the day of screening).

AFM Budak Caddebostan; Caddebostan Kültür Merkezi, Haldun Taner Sok. No:11, Caddebostan; P: (0216) 358 02 02  

AFM Fitaş; İstiklal Cad. Fitaş Pasajı, Beyoğlu; P: (0212) 345 62 45

AFM İstinyePark; İstinye Bayırı Cad. İstinye; P: (0212) 345 62 45

Cinebonus Maçka G-Mall; Kadırgalar Cad. No.3 Vişnezade Mahallesi, Maçka; P: (0212) 232 44 40  

SALT Beyoğlu; İstiklal Caddesi 136, Beyoğlu; P: (0212) 377 42 00

Babylon; Asmalı Mescit Mh. Şehbender Sk 3; P: (0212) 292 73 68

Ghetto; Kamer Hatun Caddesi 10, Beyoğlu; P: (0212) 251 75 01

Kiki; Sıraselviler Cad. No: 42, Cihangir; P: (0212) 243 53 73

Tütün Deposu; Lüleci Hendek Caddesi Koltukçular Çıkmazı No.1, Tophane; P: (0212) 292 39 56

Zencefil; Kurabiye Sok. No:3, Beyoğlu; P: (0212) 243 82 34