Halit Ergenç Arrives at Sarajevo Film Festival with 'The Valley' Project
The Turkish actor presents 'The Valley' at the 32nd edition of the festival as part of the CineLink Drama program.
The Turkish actor presents 'The Valley' at the 32nd edition of the festival as part of the CineLink Drama program.
Turkish actor Halit Ergenç, best known to wider audiences for his role as Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the historical series of the same name, arrived on Wednesday at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival. His arrival was confirmed on social media by Bosnian director Srđan Vuletić, who posted photos of the two together.
"I decided to take a photo with Suleiman the Magnificent, the great Turkish actor Halit Ergenç," Vuletić wrote alongside the photos. The images show a warm encounter between the two artists during an evening event, in a relaxed setting, with their arms around each other's shoulders and smiles on their faces.
The post quickly drew significant attention from followers, with witty comments standing out, reflecting how deeply Ergenç's role has remained etched in the memory of audiences in this region. "And where is Hürrem?" one follower asked, while many others left messages of support and excitement over the meeting.
Ergenç did not come to Sarajevo merely as a guest. As part of the festival's CineLink Drama section, he is presenting the project "The Valley," in which he serves as one of the producers. The director of the project is Özcan Alper, who is also a producer, and alongside the two of them, the production team includes Soner Alper, Seda Turan, and Erman Bostan.
The project was introduced to the public at this year's festival edition, drawing the attention of the regional film community. The festival ran from August 14 to 21, and Ergenç was one of the prominent guests, with his arrival receiving widespread media coverage.
This is not the actor's first visit to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ergenç also visited Sarajevo in 2014, when, as he noted at the time, the city's history deeply moved him. During that stay, he also toured the Tunnel of Hope, a symbol of resistance during the siege of Sarajevo, in the company of his colleague, Turkish actor Kenan İmirzalıoğlu.
At that time, Ergenç expressed hope that he would return to the city, which has now come to pass.
Born in Istanbul, the 55-year-old Ergenç has built his career in theater, film, and television. International fame came with his roles as Onur Aksal in the series "1001 Nights" and Sultan Suleiman in the historical drama "Suleiman the Magnificent," which made him one of the most recognizable Turkish actors in the world.
He is married to actress Bergüzar Korel, with whom he has three children.
