Journey
- All
- Awards
- Journey
Wow! We’re in ‘El Cultural‘
This week The Elevator was in the the biggest weekly culture magazine of Spain, ‘El Cultural’. Check out these amazing quotes from @EnricAlbero‘s exclusive article reviewing some of the best works of Valencia International Film Festival – including our very own comedy show The Elevator.
”The crazy vein of the the 33rd International Valencia Film Festival is exploding in The Elevator by Bora Omeroglu. It is the story of a baby with a moustache, raised in an elevator by a superhero who looks like Batman with osteoarthritis…”
”With an aesthetic that at times can remind the Jeunet-Caro duo, this Turkish comedy is between the bizarre explosion and the technical filigree without mitigating a feeling of dejà-vu…”
Check out the full article by Enric Albero.
Winner: ‘What’s Next Award’
What an honor! I have been awarded with the most prestigious ‘What’s Next Award’ of @Webfestberlin as the Writer to Watch, as the creator expected to shape the near future of storytelling..! What!!
It was truly one of the most important and memorable nights in my life. Even now I am having real hard time expressing how I feel about that evening.
In my humble experience, every festival always has a perspective and a purpose that reflects on their selections. In Berlin, in the heart of Europe the focus of the festival is to find the next trends and the next big thing in storytelling!
Therefore every year they present their most important award as ‘What’s Next Award’ to one writer, one director and one producer. And this year I was fortunate enough to be named the ‘What’s Next Award: Writer to Watch’ to have that privilege.
This award was particularly important and extremely emotional for me because since I have decided to follow the career path to be a writer, I’ve been spending so much time trying to create stories that offer something entirely new to storytelling and the overall narrative in the industry, which has not been the easiest and the most rewarding task to take on…
But this special award not only rewarded my series The Elevator as ‘the next thing’ but also recognized my entire efforts to be original since the beginning of my career. It’s really hard to express how good it felt to hear my name in the ceremony and to know that all my efforts so far were paid off at some level!
It also didn’t hurt that this emotionally special award came with a €1500 cash prize which will definitely come handy considering the long journey ahead of us. So, grateful for this!
Finally, I want to promise to all the jury who found me worthy of such prestigious award that I will go further than any alumni of this award and I will make you proud of your decision every step of the way! Thank you so much for this honor! This night was for life!
You can also check out this article to find out more about for more about Webfest Berlin and the prestigious What’s Next Award.
Webfest Berlinale
Everyone was telling me that Webfest Berlin was one the best web festivals out there, but to be honest I had my doubts in the beginning. Mostly because of my old prejudice telling me that Berlin was one of the coldest places in Europe and as some of you may know there is no way I might have fun in a big, cold and grey city.
But only after you arrive to Berlin that you feel the extreme dynamic and cosmopolite texture of the city. And I was happily surprised to see the same characteristic and most importantly the sun shinning in the beginning of the festival.
Berlin, being located right in the heart of Europe, was easily accessible for everyone and almost all the series was represented with their creators and it’s always interesting to meet these ridiculously talented people sharing the same passion as you do.
The festival was extremely well organised, the selection was very elegant and the panels were very educative but to me the most vital thing that makes a festival fun is the Venue and what it offers to the attendees. And oh my God! If you have seen this place..! Already an art scene itself, literally 30 seconds away from the warehouse that the festival was happening, an amazing bar, live music, a riverside restaurant and a pizza place! I mean come on! Add to that the most fun French group you can ever meet and there you have it… The recipe for the Greatest Festival Ever!
In the end, what has started as a big question mark in my mind has turned into the most fun I’ve ever had in a long time. Webfest Berlin was the best festival experience I’ve ever had, even before the award ceremony has begun.
So thank you Meredith, Joël Bassaget and @Webfestberlin for this truly extraordinary event.
Wow! That just happened
I am beyond thrilled to announce that our humble comedy show The Elevator has been selected as an Official Selection to be part of the biggest and most prestigious television festival in USA. The Independent Television Festival @itvfest sponsored by HBO and Primetime Emmy Awards. This is insane!
Thank you for this very special recognition and hopefully we will see you in October!
33rd Valencia Film Festival
So happy and proud to be part of the 33rd Valencia International Film Festival Cinemajove with my series The Elevator to be among the only twelve Official Selections from all around the world.
Last time I was in this city, I was 24 and I was a student in Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. As an art student living in Valencia, I know first hand how big and important this festival is, and I have always dreamed to be a part of it. I am beyond excited. What an honor!
My first take is, Festival is happening all around the city and it’s big! You can feel the magnitude when you literally can not walk anywhere without seeing a huge billboards promoting the festival. Also the selection of web series is very exclusive and a program with only twelve series makes the festival much more intimate and exclusive.
Opening Ceremony was huge and the screenings were great. It really never stops to amaze me how good some stories truly are and I am so glad for these festivals to let them get recognized. In the Questions and Answer section of my screening I have received this perfect question about my series: “ I have watched your show and it’s brilliant, congrats! I only have one question…Are you crazy?“. I think, right there, that was easily the highlight of the festival for me.
The Elevator did not receive an award but overall being selected to the final twelve among 300 or more series was an award in itself. Moreover being part of 33rd Valencia International Film Festival and revisiting the city that I have so many good memories about was phenomenal.
So thank you the director Maria Albinana, thank you @cinemajove and thank you the city of Valencia. You’ve been always very kind to me!
An Interview in Spain
As a part of the buzz that the Elevator has created over the 33rd Valencia International Film Festival Cinemajove, I was selected as one of two short-form creators for an official interview.
It was simply a pleasure to meet the kindest Gerardo in this process. We’ve talked about the show, my career, my inspirations and also my past visit to Valencia, when I was just a young student in Universidad Politécnica de Valencia studying Audiovisual Communication.
Check out the full interview here by Gerardo Léon.