Clouds of May (Mayıs Sıkıntısı)

Nuri Bilge Ceylan wrote and directed Mayıs Sıkıntısı (Clouds of May), a Turkish drama-comedy released on 10 December 1999. It is his third film, after the 1995 short Koza and the 1997 Kasaba, and it is dedicated to Anton Chekhov. Ceylan was also its producer, cinematographer and co-editor, shot in color on 35 mm.

The story follows Muzaffer, who returns to the small town of his childhood with a film in mind. Its people seem at peace with their small troubles, until his arrival disturbs that calm. His father Emin, who feels uneasy every May, struggles to keep the oak trees he has tended for years from the forestry administration, while also acting in his son's film. Young Saffet dreams of leaving his factory job for the city. Muzaffer Özdemir plays Muzaffer and Mehmet Emin Toprak plays Saffet, with Mehmet Emin Ceylan and Fatma Ceylan as Emin and Fatma. The cast is largely amateur, drawn from the director's close circle.

At the 1999 Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival the film won Best Director, Second Best Film and Best Laboratory, and the jury gave special awards to all of its amateur actors. Its honours also include the European Film Academy Critics Award. Ayhan Ergürsel co-edited.