LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival  (www.altinportakal.org.tr) will look at how filmmakers make audiences laugh and think with its theme of "Humour and Criticism in Film" at its 49th edition set for October 6 to 12, 2012.

Presiding over the International Competition Jury will be Istvan Szabo, the Hungarian-born filmmaker who won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film with "Mephisto" (1981).

"We are thrilled to have such an inspiring and respected voice on our jury," said Hulya Ozyol, the Director of Programming of the Antalya Festival. "We will screen more than 200 films in every genre, length and format and bring together filmmakers and film-lovers from around the world for an exciting six days."

The event is Turkey's oldest and most prestigious festival and continues to grow in importance. Located in the historic city of Antalya in Southern Turkey, the festival presents new regional films in its International Competition, and current films by young and acclaimed Turkish filmmakers in its National Competition. The festival is accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) as a competitive festival for Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.

The program includes shorts and documentary programs, and special screenings and panels, and the Golden Orange Awards gala. Past actors and filmmakers honoured at the festival include Francis Ford Coppola, Kevin Spacey, Helen Miren, Emile Kusturica, Sophie Marceau, Danny Glover, Jane Birkin and others.

This year the festival will feature films from Kazakhstan in its Eurasian Cinema program, while a section entitled Through the Master's Lens will present works of acclaimed filmmakers. A special program called State of the World will showcase films dealing with their countries' social, economic, political and historic issues.

Also new this year is a program of Dutch Cinema in celebration of 400 years of diplomatic ties between Turkey and the Netherlands. Another festival highlight will be "The Humour Summit," a series of screenings and panel discussions focusing on humour, art and politics in film.

The International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival is organized by the Antalya Culture and Arts Foundation (AKSAV) and the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. For more information visit  www.altinportakal.org.tr, email info@altinportakal.org.tr  or call +90 242 238 54 44.

SOURCE International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival