Bir Nefes Daha

8 novembre > SALA 5 ore 21

Turkey, Germany – 2020 – colore – 87’

CREDITS

Direction: Nisan Dag 

Screenplay: Nisan Dag

Cinematography: John Wakayama Carey

Editing: Kristen Swanbeck, Özcan Vardar

Set design: Sila Karakaya

Music: Da Poet, Angus MacRae 

Cast: Oktay Çubuk, Hayal Köseoglu, Ushan Çakir, Eren Çigdem, Müfit Kayacan

Producers: Muge Ozen, Jessica Caldwell, Jim Wareck, Yagmur Unal, Kanat Dogramaci, Dorothe Beinemeier

Production: Red Balloon, Solis Film 

World Sales: Magnolia Pictures

SYNOPSIS

Fehmi, a 19-year-old aspiring rapper from a rough neighbourhood in Istanbul, is approached by a top recording producer and knows this could be his big break. When Fehmi meets Devin, a 25-year old affluent DJ, they fall hard for each other and find the inspiration they were both lacking. But the flaming love affair of this unlikely duo soon becomes toxic as Fehmi finds it harder and harder to control his addiction to bonzai, a cheap and deadly drug. When I’m Done Dying is an emotional rollercoaster into the lives of Istanbul’s youth, steeped in edgy rap composed by one of the most acclaimed beatmakers and rappers in Turkey, Da Poet.

THE DIRECTOR: NISAN DAG

Born and raised in Turkey, Nisan Dag is a writer/director in her early 30s. She started her storytelling journey as a teenager with animated shorts. After graduating from Columbia University’s MFA Film Program in 2013 as a Fulbright scholar, she co-directed her feature film debut, Across The Sea (Deniz Seviyesi). The film competed at Warsaw FF and won several awards at international festivals, including the Jury and Audience awards at Slamdance FF, Best Director at Milano IFF, Best Director and 5 other awards at the Int. Adana FF. Nisan directed an episode of MTV’s Rebel Music documentary series in 2015, with rappers from Istanbul’s slums, which led her to write and develop her second feature When I’m Done Dying. Nisan is currently developing the script for her third feature film and a limited series project.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

“When I’m Done Dying takes inspiration from the hip-hop culture, just like its main character Fehmi does. The film tackles the dark topics of addiction and toxic love, yet the storytelling takes it’s en_ergy from the colorful and dynamic DNA of the Hip hop culture. The street writings and song lyrics contribute to the story, holding a mir_ror deeper into the lives of the characters. The texture of the city’s slums is not only present in the visuals, but it’s also embedded in the lyrics of the songs for the careful listeners.”

FILMOGRAPHY

2011 Onion Boy (Short)

2014 Deniz Seviyesi (Across The Sea, cod. with Esra Saydam) 

2014 Marvelous Fishman (Short)

2015 Rebel Music (TV Series doc., 1 ep.)

2019 Fuat: Rast Gel Kazara (Video short)

2020 Bir Nefes Daha (When I’m Done Dying)

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

2020 Tallinn Black Nights FF –  Main Competition: Best Director

2021 Santa Barbara IFF:  Best International Feature Film

2021 Chennai IFF – Official Selection

2021 Cleveland IFF – Official Selection

2021 Mostra de Valencia – Cinema del Mediterraneo Official Selection

2021 Helsinki IFF – Love & Anarchy Official Selection 

2021 Cambridge FF –  Official Selection