Star-studded Golden Butterfly Awards witness Soma, Gezi tributes

ISTANBUL

Hollywood star Jessica Alba was the honorary guest of this year’s ceremony. (Photo: Murat Şaka - Hürriyet)

The 41st Altın Kelebek (Golden Butterfly) Awards, which were presented on June 22 at a ceremony at Istanbul’s Zorlu Center, witnessed tributes to the Soma mining disaster victims and the Gezi Park protests.

Hollywood star Jessica Alba was the honorary guest of this year’s ceremony, attended by the stars of Turkish television and sponsored by Magnum. Alba welcomed guests briefly in Turkish during her opening speech:



Comedian Tolga Çevik was the biggest winner of the night, taking home the Best Comedy Actor award and the Best Comedy Series award for his improvised comedy show “Arkadaşım Hoşgeldin” (Welcome, My Friend).

Halit Ergenç won the award for Best Actor with his performance as Suleiman the Magnificent in the historical drama “Muhteşem Yüzyıl” (The Magnificent Century), which ended this month after four hugely successful seasons.

Miss Turkey Universe 2010 titleholder Serenay Sarıkaya’s acting performance received the Best Actress award for her part in “Medcezir,” a Turkish drama adapted from U.S. series The O.C.

“Küçük Ağa” was awarded Best Drama, while Altan Dönmez was chosen as Best Drama Director for “Güneşi Beklerken” (While Waiting for the Sun).

Among the other winners of this year’s awards were Murat Boz (Best Male Pop Singer), Gülşen (Best Female Pop Singer), Yatcaz Kalkcaz Hop Ordayız by Gülşen (Best Song of the Year), İrfan Değirmenci (Best Anchorman), Nazlı Çelik (Best Anchorwoman), and “Büyük Risk” (Big Risk) (Best TV Contest).

Değirmenci received some of the most enthusiastic applause of the night. In his speech, he said he was also awarded the same prize in 2013, but the ceremony was cancelled due to the Gezi Park protests in which six young demonstrators died during police crackdowns.

“The ceremony was not held, because the butterflies in the streets, in the parks, were much more free, colorful and delicate than ever,” Değirmenci said.



This year’s event was also postponed for a month due to the Soma mining disaster, which killed 301 workers in the western province of Manisa on May 13. 

“As our hearts were burning like coal and faces were roasted by the fire of Soma, we swayed from May to June,” Değirmenci also said in his speech, adding that he dedicated his “Butterfly” to “the moths who fly toward fire and to the beautiful souls who turn an honest penny.”

Duman, which was selected as Best Music Band, was another award winner that drew applause with a tribute to the Gezi Park protests. “We want to thank the people who love us and come to our concerts, to those who listen to our songs and to the Gezi Park resistance,” the rock band’s lead singer Kaan Tangöze said on the stage.


The awards, presented by daily Hürriyet every year in 26 categories, determine the best of the music and television world through votes sent in via the Internet by Hürriyet readers.