Shubhabrata Dutta
Two internationally recognized Turkish performers will lead the cast of Sibel Guvenc’s feature directorial debut! The Cinemaholic can confirm that Saadet Aksoy and Nejat Isler will star in the drama film ‘Loya.’ The movie will enter production on October 28 in Toronto, Ontario. Guvenc also wrote the screenplay.
The plot centers on Loya, an eleven-year-old “nature child” living in the Turkish mountains, where generations of her family have lived. After losing her adoptive father, she is diagnosed with cancer. She then fights for both her life and her land, which faces destruction at the hands of a Canadian gold mining company owned by her biological father. Loya embarks on a journey to reconcile with him and save her home while dealing with her terminal illness.
Aksoy is known for playing Lilit in the second season of Netflix’s fantasy series ‘Shahmaran,’ which revolves around the legend of the titular mystical creature awaiting a prophecy. She also appeared in Sergio Castellitto’s war romance ‘Twice Born,’ starring alongside Penélope Cruz and Emile Hirsch. Her notable television credits include the period dramas ‘Wounded Love’ and ‘The Magnificent Century.’
Isler played Ismail in Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Palme d’Or-winning drama film ‘Winter Sleep.’ Based on ‘The Wife’ by Anton Chekhov, the narrative explores a complicated relationship between an actor and his wife. The actor also led the Netflix crime dramas ‘10 Days of a Bad Man‘ and ‘10 Days of a Good Man.’ The two movies follow the private investigator Sadik as he tries to solve complex cases. Isler also served as the narrator for the Netflix thriller drama series ‘As the Crow Flies.’
Sibel Guvenc has helmed many short films showcasing her directorial prowess, including ‘End of the Rope,’ ‘One Step Apart,’ and ‘Turkish Mesir Macunu.’ She has also directed the feature-length documentary ‘Reflections of Invisible,’ which explores the power of music in human psychology.
Toronto, also known as Hollywood North, is a prominent filming location for many notable movies and shows, including ‘The Umbrella Academy,’ ‘The Shape of Water,’ ‘Priscilla,’ ‘Reacher,’ and ‘It.’
