The 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival opened with a ceremony at the Antalya Sports Hall. Hosted by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality under the theme "DAİMA" ("Always"), the opening night saw actors Menderes Samancılar and Tilbe Saran receive Honorary Awards, while producer Abdurrahman Keskiner and artist Suzan Kardeş were presented with Lifetime Achievement (Emek) Awards.
The ceremony, presented by Pınar Altuğ Atacan and Emre Kınay, paid tribute to late film actors with a standing ovation. Singer, composer and lyricist Nevzat Doğansoy, known by the stage name "Nev", who died on the same day, was also remembered. Kınay performed memorable soundtracks from the classic Yeşilçam era of Turkish cinema.
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Acting Mayor and Festival President Büşra Özdemir said in her opening speech that the evening brought a 63-year story back to life. Describing the intense preparations, she said: "Golden Orange is just such a value. We are determined to protect this legacy, to grow it further and to carry it from Antalya to all of Türkiye and the world." Stressing that their passion for cinema is lasting, she added: "Our determination and our faith are always. That is why the slogan of our 63rd festival is DAİMA."
Referring to news of wars around the world, Özdemir announced a special programme section titled "Roots, Light and Camera", focusing on filmmakers working in the shadow of conflict. The section will screen 13 films from Lebanon, Iran, Palestine and Ukraine. "Our wish is very clear: may weapons fall silent everywhere in the world, may art, culture and the common language of humanity speak, and may the light of cinema never go out anywhere," she said.
National Feature Film Jury President Derviş Zaim recalled that he first screened a film in 1996 and won his first cinema award in Antalya. "After so many years, it is an honour to be here as jury president," he said.
Samancılar noted that he won his first award in Antalya in 1979 with the film "Sis", while Saran said cinema builds bridges from heart to heart. Kardeş remarked: "My daughter grew up without me, I grew old without her, but our love of cinema never ended." Keskiner, marking his 61st year in film, said he won his first award at the festival in 1970 and five awards in 1987 for "Muhsin Bey", adding that he had made nearly 70 films, six series and many documentaries. Young Achievement Awards went to actors Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu and Leyla Smyrna Cabas, and a Special Award for Contribution to Cinema was given to Beşiktaş Cultural Centre (BKM), received by actors Ersin Korkut and Ezgi Mola from Özdemir.
