Turkish film wins Sarajevo film festival award

By Daria Sito-Sucic

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - A Turkish film about fear overwhelming a true believer when he is caught up in religious corruption has been chosen as the best movie at the 13th Sarajevo Film Festival.

The jury, headed by actor Jeremy Irons, awarded "A Man's Fear of God" (Takva) by director Ozer Kiziltan with the 25,000 euros (17,000 pounds) Heart of Sarajevo award at the closing ceremony on Saturday night.

The film tells the story of a strict Muslim whose solitary life changes when a powerful religious group recruit him as a rent collector, throwing him into the modern outside world.

The new job puts his devotion to the test and the fear of God starts to drive him mad.

"When you think of fear, when fear brings you close to losing your mind, it's just as if the fear eats away at your soul," said Fatih Akin, the Turkish-born German co-producer of the film receiving the award on behalf of the crew.

"We didn't expect that (award)," Akin said, explaining the absence of the film's authors who had already left Sarajevo.

Turkish films dominated the festival with three competing at the Balkan's largest film forum for the first time this year.

Saadet Isil Aksoy was awarded the best actress for her role in "Egg" by Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu.