“Sinan, Master of Architects” will be previewed in the renewed Atlas cinema

“Mimarların Piri Sinan” (“Sinan, Master of Architects”), a new docudrama that depicts the life of former Ottoman chief architect Mimar Sinan, will premiere at the renovated Atlas Cinema in Istanbul today. Hosted by Istanbul Governorate as part of the April 9 Memorial Day of Mimar Sinan and the Architects, the screening will take place at 7 p.m.

The film gala will be the first event at the historic venue, which reopened on February 26 after its restoration. Speaker of Parliament Mustafa Åžentop, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Governor of Istanbul Ali Yerlikaya and guests from business, arts and sports will participate in the event. At the gala, a four-century-old manuscript of “Tezkiretü’l Bünyan”, written by poet and miniaturist Sai Mustafa Çelebi on the life of Mimar Sinan, will also be on display.

Sinan, the chief architect under Sultans Suleiman I, Selim II and Murad III, left his mark on the empire and its architecture with a list of its magnificent structures. The new 60-minute documentary, directed by Mesut Genç, portrays Sinan’s childhood, youth and old age. It was shot in different locations in Turkey including central Kayseri province, Istanbul and northwestern Edirne province, exploring some unknown facts and works of Sinan.

The documentary used authentic sets and costumes from the time. Sinan’s life and works are told by Mimar Sinan University professor dean Suphi Saatçi, art historian Selçuk Mülayim, architect Sinan Genim, professor of architectural historian Afife Batur and the dean of the Faculty of Architecture of Mimar Sinan University (MSGSÃœ) Professor Demet Binan.

Child actor, Mehmet Öztürkan portrays the childhood of Mimar Sinan, while his youth is portrayed by Erkan Çelik and the famous Turkish actor Coşkun Çetinalp plays the older years of the architect.