Hunting Season (Film)

Av Mevsimi is a 2010 Turkish crime drama film written and directed by Yavuz Turgul. Starring Şener Şen, Cem Yılmaz and Çetin Tekindor, the film bears traces of the rarely seen film noir and crime drama genres in Turkish cinema, unfolding through the investigation of a murder case. Set within the context of a police inquiry, the film explores themes such as human psychology, justice, conscience and the hardships of life.

The film centers on the efforts of experienced commissioner Ferman (Şener Şen), his assistant İdris (Cem Yılmaz), and the newly joined member of the team Hasan (Okan Yalabık), all working at the Istanbul Police Homicide Bureau, as they investigate the murder of a young woman. As the team delves into the case, they enter a world steeped in the shadows of the past, filled with intertwined relationships and secrets. As the story progresses, the characters’ inner conflicts, personal histories and professional burdens come to the forefront.

The film is shaped around themes such as justice, conscience, anger, revenge and social decay.

• Şener Şen – Ferman (The Hunter)
• Cem Yılmaz – İdris (The Madman)
• Çetin Tekindor – Abbas (The Master)
• Okan Yalabık – Hasan
• Melisa Sözen – Ayla
• Rıza Kocaoğlu – Muzo
• Derya Alabora – Asiye
• Berrak Tüzünataç – Ceren

The film was produced by Mine Vargı. The cinematography was handled by Uğur İçbak, and the music was composed by Toygar Işıklı. Filming took place in various neighborhoods of Istanbul and along the Black Sea coast. The film’s visual atmosphere is dark and somber, and at times diverges from classic police procedural conventions to embrace a psychological drama dimension.

Av Mevsimi received numerous nominations at various festivals in 2011, including the Sadri Alışık Acting Awards and the SIYAD Turkish Cinema Awards, and won awards in the categories of acting and music.