The world’s best festival closed with a magnificent ceremony

In the 100th anniversary of the Republic, 3500 guests from 100 countries will be invited!

The International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival, which opened its door on July 29 with the participation of 1500 art ambassadors from 64 countries, ended with a magnificent stage Show.

Mayor of Büyükçekmece Dr. Hasan Akgün, by stating that the 24th International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival will be held within the framework of the 100th anniversary celebrations of our Republic; said that ‘’we invite 3500 art ambassadors from 100 countries.’’.

Honor Award was given to Zihni Göktay
 

The International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival, which has been selected as the ‘’World’s Best Culture and Art Festival’’ consecutively 8 times by the Federation of World Dance Festivals, hosted various cultural and artistic events this year as well. The closing ceremony of the Festival took place at Kültürpark Kemal Sunal Amphitheater. In the final night, awards were given in the fields of culture and art. The Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given every year as part of the festival, was given to Ercan Bostancıoğlu, while the Lifetime Honor Award was given to Zihni Göktay. The awards of the artists were presented by the Mayor of Büyükçekmece Dr. Hasan Akgün.

‘’I admire Büyükçekmece’’

Zihni Göktay, who thanked the festival committee and jury members who deemed him worthy of the award, said: ‘’This Büyükçekmece has become a passion for me. I take pride in being one of the first to be remembered when there is an art & cultural event or a theatrical event. I thank them very much in your presence. I congratulate my brother Hasan Akgün with appreciation and gratitude. Büyükçekmece Lake is beautiful, big. It nourishes Istanbul with its water, and it nourishes Istanbul with its culture. This is not possible in every country or city. I admire Büyükçekmece. I promise you that I will carry this award with honor throughout my life.

‘’My biggest reward was seeing Atatürk’’

Ercan Bostancıoğlu stated that he received the greatest award in his life by seeing Atatürk, who came to Bursa for the opening of the Merinos Factory in 1938, when he was only 2 years old, and said: ‘’My dear Hasan Akgün gave me the second biggest award in my life. As a 50 year-old Büyükçekmece citizen, I can say that we are very lucky. It is a source of pride for us to have a mayor like Hasan Akgün. Thank you Hasan Akgün, thank you, our esteemed mayor.

‘’I would like to Announce to the Federation of World Dance Festivals and the Members of the Jury’’

Mayor of Büyükçekmece Dr. Hasan Akgün stated that the 24th International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival, which will be held in 2023, is important and said: “2023is the 100th anniversary of our Republic, and the 24th of its festival. I would like to announce in advance to the group leaders and the jury members of Federation of World Dance Festivals. We invite 3500 art ambassadors from 100 countries, as we will look at our 24th International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival within the framework of the 100th anniversary celebrations of our Republic. Art lovers know the conditions under which we held these festivals until today. I would like to thank once again everyone who contributed to this festival from beginning to end.

First Place Award went to Macedonia

At the final of the night, the results of the International Goldenbridge Folk Dance Contest were announced. As a result of the contests in which dance groups of countries from all over the World competed, the jury chose Macedonia as the first place, Georgia as the second and Mexico as the third place. The winner of the International Contemporary Dance Competition was Furkan Yılmaz, while the second was Şiva Cambazoğlu and the third was Gülsüm Buse Cingöz.