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CANNES WATCH: Stars show solidarity with those affected by Turkish mining tragedy with signs

May 16 2014 12:21 AM

CP28390839 — From left, actress Demet Akbag, director Nuri Bilgle Ceylan, actor Haluk Bilginer and actress Melisa Soezen pose for photographers with signs reading "soma", a reference to Turkey\'s worst mining incident in which hundreds of miners were killed earlier this week in Soma, Turkey, during a photo call for Winter Sleep at the 67th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 16, 2014. At least 250 people died in a coal mine explosion and fire, which has set off a raft of protests and public outrage at allegedly poor safety conditions at Turkish coal mines, widespread corruption and what some perceived as government indifference. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Original Publication Date: May 16, 2014 12:21AM

Publication Updated: January 8, 2025 11:11PM

CANNES, France – The stars of the Turkish film “Winter’s Sleep” are showing their solidarity for those affected by the mining tragedy in that country as they promote the film in Cannes.

The actors and director held up signs with the hashtag Soma during their photo call Friday for the movie.

Soma is the Turkish city where at least 284 people were killed in a fire in a coal mine, the country’s worst mining accident. There has been an outcry of anger and protests from the public, some of whom blame the government for not taking action to correct alleged safety problems in Turkey’s mines.

“Winter’s Sleep,” by director Nuri Blige Ceylan, is a family drama starring Haluk Bilginer, Demet Akbag and Melisa Sozen. All four held the signs for photographers on Friday.

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