Suna Selen, Macit Koper and Aydın Sayman receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Adana Altın Koza

The recipients of the Orhan Kemal Labor Awards at the 33rd International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival, which will take place from September 26 to October 4, 2026, have been announced. Given to honor the memory of Orhan Kemal, this year’s Labor Awards will be presented to actress Suna Selen; actor, screenwriter, and director Macit Koper; and director, screenwriter, and producer Aydın Sayman.

Organized by the Adana Metropolitan Municipality and taking place between September 26 and October 4, 2026, the recipients of the Orhan Kemal Labor Awards for the 33rd International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival have been revealed. Aimed at keeping alive the memory of Adana-born author Orhan Kemal, whose novels and short stories have inspired cinema, the awards given to cinema workers will be presented this year to Suna Selen, Macit Koper, and Aydın Sayman.

Labor Awards for Three Esteemed Filmmakers

In a statement made by the Festival Executive Committee, it was expressed: “We feel great honor and happiness to present the Orhan Kemal Labor Awards of the 33rd International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival to three esteemed filmmakers,” with the justifications for the awards explained as follows:

Suna Selen: Elegance, Depth, and the Power of Character Bringing characteristic roles to life in her artistic journey that began with theatre training—across numerous feature films such as Pamuk Prenses ve 7 Cüceler (1970), At (1981), Faize Hücum (1982), Cazibe Hanımın Gündüz Düşleri (1992), Şahmaran (1993), Gönderilmemiş Mektuplar (2002), and Bulutları Beklerken (2003), as well as television productions such as Ateşten Günler, Lüküs Hayat, Sihirli Annem, Eşkıya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz, Kızım, and Kıskanmak—Suna Selen became renowned for the depth she brought to every character she portrayed and her consistent acting career spanning many years. For her labor presented to the stage and the silver screen, as well as the prestige she brought to her profession, it has been decided to present the Orhan Kemal Labor Award of the 33rd International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival to Suna Selen.

Macit Koper: A Master in Acting and Screenwriting Carrying his high-quality work on theatre stages as an actor, dramaturg, and director into cinema, Macit Koper—alongside his acting in productions such as At (1981), Hakkâri’de Bir Mevsim (1983), Bir Yudum Sevgi (1983), Aaahh Belinda (1986), Anayurt Oteli (1986), Melodram (1988), and Melekler Evi (2000)—penned the screenplays for unforgettable films such as Bez Bebek (1987), Rumuz Goncagül (1987), Fikrimin İnce Gülü – Sarı Mercedes (1987), Kiraz Çiçek Açıyor (1990), Cazibe Hanımın Gündüz Düşleri (1992), Akrebin Yolculuğu (1997), and Zıkkımın Kökü (1992). For his productivity and high-quality contributions demonstrated both in front of the camera and in screenwriting in our cinema, it has been decided to present the Orhan Kemal Labor Award of the 33rd International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival to Macit Koper.

Aydın Sayman: Representative of Social Cinema Stepping into the industry during the Sinematek years through film criticism, magazine journalism, and assistant directing, Aydın Sayman involved himself as a director, screenwriter, and producer in films such as Güneşteki Leke (1986), Sır Çocukları (2002), Janjan (2006), and İçimdeki İnsan (2015). For his productions addressing social issues and his versatile labor offered to our cinema from behind the camera, it has been decided to present the Orhan Kemal Labor Award of the 33rd International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival to Aydın Sayman.

The Orhan Kemal Labor Awards will find their recipients on the opening night of the festival on Saturday evening, September 26.