directed by Banu Alagöz
Documentary film
WISH FACTORY TR, 2015, English, 42’ Director & Producer: Banu Alagöz Co-Producer: Yosun Güreli / Par Vizyon Cast: Henry Ositadenma, Yolanthe Cabau Sneijder, Wesley Sneijder Executive Producer: Tamar Zeynep Aşkar Cinematographer: Banu Alagöz First Assistant Director: Ertan Alagöz Editor: Ertan Velimatti, Alagöz Banu Alagöz Sound: Ertan Velimatti Alagöz, Suvi Elif Alagöz Film is in english with turkish subtitlesIt is believed that if you light a candle and make a wish in St.Anthony Catholic Church, located on the busiest street in the old town of Istanbul, your wish is meant to come true. This belief brings together hundreds of people under the same roof everyday, lighting a candle for themselves, their loved ones and creating a colorful, hopeful and lively atmosphere. With a great number of demand, the church produces its own candles in a recycling process, taking the last bids of the used ones, melting them in a big pot to produce new candles for new wishes. Henry, 24, is a Nigerian living in a poor district of Istanbul. During the week, he escorts international buyers of textile products, and on Sundays he serves at the weekly mass in the church. The eldest son of a big orphaned family, his dream and only wish is to become a professional football player, and help others like him with the resources and reach he will have. Living in a basement flat with six other men, sometimes eating only bread for a week, his strength and energy to carry on comes from helping others, and his daily visit to the church. After God, football is the next thing that can sustain him. Yolanthe, 29, is a Dutch actress and designer, living in an upscale residence, with her husband Wesley Sneijder, currently playing for the Turkish football team, Galatasaray. Although having a fast paced glamorous life on the outside, she is grounded in her daily practice as a Catholic Christian, and in her work to help others, especially children and girls not privileged like her. She is one of the founders of the international foundation Follow Your Heart, whose mission is to prevent child suffering and exploitation. In Christmas, Yolanthe visits St.Anthony Church to make a wish, to be able to save more kids from a horrible and painful life. Henry and Yolanthe cross each others’ lives without even knowing how similar their hopes and wishes are, even though they seem to live totally different lives.