The 25th Ankara International Film Festival, organized by the World Mass Media Foundation, opened on June 5 with a ceremony held at the Presidential Symphonic Orchestra Concert Hall.

The festival will continue until June 15 with the screening of national and international feature films, documentaries and competitions.

At the festival’s opening ceremony, figures who have previously contributed to the festival and worked as jury members were presented with special plaques.

The festival’s Aziz Nesin Labor Award was presented to veteran Turkish actress Hülya Koçyiğit. “Cinema is a not an individual art. We have always worked with a collective soul to keep it alive. I don’t want to leave you without remembering the masters that brought Turkish cinema into existence. The real honor, the real respect and the real labor is of them. Long live Turkish cinema,” Koçyiğit said in her acceptance speech.

The Mass Media Award was presented to the Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation, rewarded for the concerts and festivals it organizes, and the books and music albums it released to contribute to the development of music. Mehmet Başman received the award from the State Opera and Ballet General Director Rengim Gökmen on behalf of the foundation.

The Tree of Arts Award was given to the ballet dancer Meriç Sümen for her successful career and contributions to the education of young ballet dancers.

Hurriyet Daily News