Directors From Turkey
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- Director
- Producer
Ertem Egilmez was born on 18 February 1929 in Trabzon, Turkey. He was a director and producer, known for My Dear Brother (1973), Kalbimin Efendisi (1970) and Bir Millet Uyaniyor (1966). He died on 21 September 1989 in Istanbul, Turkey.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Ezel Akay was born in 1961. He studied engineering at Bosphorus University, and theatre arts at Villanova University. He took part in many theatre productions as an actor and director before entering film production as a founding partner of IFR, where he was the director of more than 900 commercials. In 1996, he produced Dervis Zaim's feature film debut, "Somersault in a Coffin." The film won the highest number of international awards ever received by a Turkish film. Following this film, he was the executive producer of Yesim Ustaoglu's "Journey to the Sun", which also won many awards at international festivals including the prestigious Berlin Film Festival.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Abdullah Oguz was born on 17 June 1958 in Istanbul, Turkey. He is a producer and director, known for Mutluluk (2007), Color of Victory (2024) and Asmali Konak: Hayat (2003).- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Serdar Akar was born in 1964 in Ankara, Turkey. He is a director and writer, known for Gemide (1998), Dar Alanda Kisa Paslasmalar (2000) and At the Bar (2007).Dar alanda kisa paslasmalar
1998 Gemide Kurtlar vadisi Barda Behzat Ç. Bir Ankara Polisiyesi- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Turkish director Sinan Cetin founded Plato Films in 1986. Since then he has shot 11 feature films and has become one of the most famous and successful directors in Turkey. He has also directed and produced hundreds of commercials. Plato Film Prod. is now a creative pool for young people enamored of scriptwriting, directing, or post-production and allows a unique independence most film-makers only dream of.- Casting Director
Faruk Aksoy is known for Conquest 1453 (2012).- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Ferdi Egilmez was born on 12 March 1963 in Istanbul, Turkey. He is a producer and assistant director, known for Wacky Class in Army (2005), Wacky Class 3,5 (2006) and Pak Panter (2010).- Writer
- Production Designer
- Producer
Gani Müjde was born on 27 November 1959 in Istanbul, Turkey. He is a writer and production designer, known for Arabesk (1989), Bizans Oyunlari: Geym of Bizans (2016) and Osmanli Cumhuriyeti (2008). He is married to Belma Canciger. They have two children.- Director
- Editor
- Writer
Serif Gören was born on 14 October 1944 in Ksanthi, Greece. He is a director and editor, known for Yol (1982), Endise (1974) and Derman (1983).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Halit Refig, Turkish filmmaker, film critic and theoretician and an intellectual was born in Izmir, Turkey in 1934 to an industrial family. He attended Sisli Terakki High School and briefly attended Robert College Engineering Dept. During his military service he started making documentaries in Japan, Korea and Sri Lanka with a Super 8 camera. In 1957 he started the Turkish Film Review (Sinema Dergisi) with fellow film critic Nijat Ozon. Later he assisted director Atif Yilmaz in two films. In 1961 he directed his first feature, Yasak ask (1961). His approach to filmmaking was influenced by his friendship with the famous Turkish novelist Kemal Tahir. This collaboration gave fruit to Four Women in the Harem, which Refig scripted and later production of Yorgun Savasci (1979) in 1979, the most controversial film ever made in Turkish film history. Refig defended it and published a theory of national cinema, which he named Ulusal Sinema (national cinema). Later he revised his theory and called his work ATUT (Asiatic Mode of Production) cinema or Halk Sinemasi (Cinema of the People). Refig collected his articles on national cinema in a volume; Ulusal Sinema Kavgasi (Fight for a national Cinema). Refig and his fellow filmmakers like Metin Erksan and Lütfi Ö. Akad made nationalist films until late 1960s. In 1974, the newly established Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) commissioned Refig to make a literary adaptation of a Turkish novel of his choice. The result was _Ask-i memnu (1974) (TV)_ (Forbidden Love) which was hailed as the first Turkish TV mini series. In 1975 Refig joined fellow filmmakers to establish the Turkish Cinema and TV Institute. In 1977 he was invited to teach at University of Wisconsin where he made a Victorian period drama, Intercessors. In 1979 he was invited once again by the TRT to make Yorgun Savasci (Tired Warrior) Kemal Tahir's controversial novel. Described as the ultimate national cinema piece, the production and later on burning of the negatives by the military government in 1982 of Tired Warrior. The film was later aired in 1992 from a restored 1 inch tape. After this Refig made popular films for Turker Inanoglu. This gave Refig the opportunity to realize his smaller and more personal projects like Hanim (Madame). After nearly a decade Refig made Köpekler Adasi (1997) (Island of Dogs). The film received mixed reviews. As a filmmaker he made over 50 popular and personal films in Turkish film industry since 1961. As a film critic and theoretician he produced a significant body of film criticism and literally created a theory of national cinema, one that predates the theories of third cinema initiated in Latin American and African countries. Finally, as an intellectual he practiced what he preached. Refig focused on national and cultural identity in the young Turkish Republic, critiquing the westernization and nationalist ideologies in Turkey and favoring the traditional values and the Ottoman past. Refig deconstructed the Republican Kemalist ideology and the position of the Kemalist intellectual in Turkish society, discussed east-west and rural-urban tension in a rapidly changing social environment and the position of women in defining the new Turkish national identity. His work is also influenced by the psychoanalytical work of Freud and Jung's idea of collective consciousness. Refig likes applying a dialectical intellectual montage and German expressionist framing. Since 1975 Refig has taught at the Cinema and TV Institute of Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul, Turkey.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Hamdi Alkan was born on 15 July 1967 in Antakya, Hatay, Turkey. He is a director and writer, known for Arka Siradakiler (2007), Bayrampasa: Ben Fazla Kalmayacagim (2007) and Ögretmen Kemal (2010). He was previously married to Selen Görgüzel and Canan Hosgör.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Hasan Karacadag was born in 1976 in Turkey.After high school he went to GATA medical academy.He left the academy two years later.He won the Gold Award and best film award at the 'JVC Tokyo Video Festival' 2001-2002-2003. At year 2002-2003 he won the 'Bunkacho Director Award of Japanese agency for cultural affairs. This is the the best artist award of Japan for foreign. His shoestring budget horror film 'D@bbe' lures audiences in Turkey. D@bbe, which was first feature filmed by director Hasan Karacadag; on a low $150,000 budget, has attracted the attention of Turkish audiences despite competition from high-budget movies. This year once again Karacadag is drawing on Islamic legend to create a startling eastern mythological based horror film. His second horror feature film 'Semum' has been number 1 at opening weekend on Box office of Turkey.He made his English debut film Magi starring Lucie Pohl, Michael Madsen, Stephen Baldwin and Brianne Davis. The film went on general release across Turkey on April 29, 2016.- Producer
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Türker Inanoglu (born May 18, 1936) is a Turkish screenwriter, film director and producer.
He married first the film actress Filiz Akin, and after his divorce Gülsen Bubikoglu, another former Turkish movie star. They have two children, a son, Ilker and a daughter, Zeynep.
Inanoglu came in contact with the cinema when he was a student at the Istanbul Academy of Applied Fine Arts in 1957. After working as assistant to directors Ömer Lütfi Akat and Nisan Hançer in eleven movies, he directed in 1960 his first feature Senden Ayri Yasayamam.
After directing nine movies in the studios of Yesilçam, the Turkish Hollywood, Inanoglu established in 1959 his own film company Erler Film, which is today the oldest film production company in Turkey still in business. Since then, he produced 126 black-and-white and color films, among them 21 co-productions with Greece, Italy and Iran. He executed also the productions of American, Japanese, French and German filmmakers' documentary films shot in Turkey. Until now, he directed 82 movies.
In 1979, Inanoglu started the video business in Turkey by founding the first video company, Ulusal Video. His company distributed video copies of domestic movies to around 1,500 video clubs in Turkey and abroad. He contributed so five years long to the survival of Turkish cinema, which found itself in a big economic crisis.
To produce news and entertainment programs for the television, he established a studio in 1985. In this studio, Inanoglu produced very popular programs like Bir Baska Gece ("Another night"), Hodri Meydan ("Challenge"), Gecenin getirdikleri ("Things came by night") for the then only TV channel in Turkey, TRT. Later, following the opening of private TV channels, he continued to produce TV programs for channels like Star TV, Show TV, Kanal 6 and ATV, totaling to 10,000 hours.
In 1994, Inanoglu became president of the channel ATV and helped it became a leader in the sector. Recently, he established a cable TV channel, Süper Kanal.
He co-founded sectoral associations and served as their chairman. Recently, he is the honorary president of the Turkish Association of Owners of Cinema Arts, SESAM. In 1997, he set up the Türker Inanoglu Cinema Foundation and transferred all the copyrights on his productions to this charity institution with social and educational goals for the Turkish cinema.- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Kartal Tibet was born on 27 March 1939 in Ankara, Turkey. He was a director and actor, known for Sabaniye (1984), Tarkan (1969) and Turks in Space (2006). He died on 1 July 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey.- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Levent Semerci is known for Nefes: Vatan Sagolsun (2009) and Ayhan Hanim (2014).- Producer
- Actor
- Writer
Mahsun Kirmizigul, who was born into a large family, completed primary and secondary schools in Diyarbakir. He came to Istanbul with great hopes from city where he was born and raised. His big dream was to be an artist. On the one hand, while struggling with the difficult conditions of Istanbul alone; On the other hand, he made 6 albums at the age of being a child, but he could not achieve what he desired.
The artist, who did not lose hope, had decided to study conservatory then he graduated from Istanbul University, State Conservatory Singing Department. Following his music education, Mahsun Kirmizigul, released "Alem Buysa" album in the year of 1993, almost turn upside-down the list in the music world and he became famous.
Mahsun Kirmizigul, who was born into a large family, completed primary and secondary schools in Diyarbakir. He came to Istanbul with great hopes from city where he was born and raised. His big dream was to be an artist. On the one hand, while struggling with the difficult conditions of Istanbul alone; On the other hand, he made 6 albums at the age of being a child, but he could not achieve what he desired.
The artist, who did not lose hope, had decided to study conservatory then he graduated from Istanbul University, State Conservatory Singing Department. Following his music education, Mahsun Kirmizigul, released "Alem Buysa" album in the year of 1993, almost turn upside-down the list in the music world and he became famous.
The artist, who made all the difference to the music world, generated his own music style in the 90's. As one of Turkey's best voices, Mahsun Kirmizigul, who dragged millions after him, achieved an unequalled success in the music world. The artist reached a total of 16 million sales charts with 7 albums, 1 maxi single and 1 single released in 11 years. The artist, who gave hundreds of concerts on 5 continents, was the most well-known musician in the Middle East, the Caucasus and the Balkans apart from Turkey. The famous musician took a radical decision in the mid-2000s and took a break from music and dedicated himself to explaining the problems of his country and making communal films.
His movies have been watched approximately by 20 million people in domestic and foreign cinemas, for 16 years of giving break music. He produced 6 films that are expressed as among the masterpiece of Turkish cinema. When the artist was getting financial gain far so much in the peak of his success as a musician, he took his interest in his country's issues, which were ignored, and produced proposition films.
The artist, who was passionately attached to the cinema in his childhood; got a big break with Beyaz Melek, the first movie that he wrote, directed, starred in and composed music for. While Beyaz Melek became the "most-watched movie" among domestic and foreign films released in Turkey in 2007; It won the 'Best Film' and 'Best Director awards at the 41st Houston Film Festival.
Mahsun Kirmizigul, with his second movie 'I Saw the Sun' in 2009; boldly displayed a 25-year-old unsolvable social problem. The film, which had a great impact at home and abroad, was Turkey's Oscar nominee. "I Saw the Sun", which was the "Most Watched Movie of the Year" in the drama category in Turkey the year it was in the vision, received two awards at the same time in the "Best Performance" and "Best Cinematography" categories at the Singapore International Film Festival.
"Five Minarets in New York", the first script of which he wrote in 1998 and developed in 11 years, took its place on the big screen as Mahsun Kirmizigul's third feature film. Focusing on the blood feud of two Kurdish characters from Bitlis, the movie became Turkey's most-watched drama in the year it was released. "Mucize", which he wrote as the 4. film is inspired by a real story, win great recognition and it once again broke the record at the box office and became Turkey's most-watched drama film in the drama category in the year it was released.
The 5. film of the artist, who tried to tell the story of a dishonest Judge, who was corrupt in the Ottoman period, defrauded people by exploiting religion, in a funny language in the film "Vezir Parmagi", was banned by the Governorships in 36 locations. The film, which does not contain a single word of profanity, was limited to the age of 18 by the Ministry of Culture, and outdoor advertisements of the film were banned. While the posters of the movie were torn from the billboards, the world of cinema fell into silence. Unions and cinema professional associations could not even make a single statement for the censored and banned film "Vezir Parmagi". Despite all the blocking, censorship and defamation, the movie was watched by approximately 800,000 people.
The artist, continuing his cinema passion, produced "Mucize" as the 6. film and "Mucize Ask 2" as a sequel. The sequel "Mucize Ask 2" made it to the top again, with over 2 million box offices in theatres.
Mahsun Kirmizigul took part as a director, screenwriter and actor in 6 movies that he transferred to the movie screen; broke new ground by making the soundtracks of his films and went down in the history of Turkish cinema. Artist; With his 6 films, he became the filmmaker who does well at the box office in the last 40 years in the drama category in Turkey.
The legendary artist, who received hundreds of awards in music and cinema, started to work on albums again in 2019. He returned to the music world, where he took a break for 16 years, in the first seconds of 2022. The artist, who put out the first album of the new year to be released in the world, so to speak left his mark in 2022 by adding innovation and movement to the music world.
Mahsun Kirmizigul, who appeared in front of his fans with the album "Hos Geldin" consisting of 17 songs, at a time when artists did not dare to make an album, also exhibit his difference.
He made the premiere of the album on New Year's Eve on a TV channel before social media and digital platforms. At the gala night, millions of fans of the artist were watching him on the screens. The artist, who made a great difference in the music world, broke new ground again by making the whole album of Dollbey Atmos a new generation sound extension. The artist has made a place for himself in "World Global" on digital platforms. Returning to music with new experimental work, the artist gave a place, Turkish Pop, Fusion, Edm, Progressive House, Anatolian Rock, Latin, Trap, Alternative, Authentic Music, Ragatoon, Acoustic, Turkish Folk Music and Arabesque music genres in his album.- Producer
- Director
- Actor
Turkish football player, film director, actor, editor, screenwriter, producer, lecturer and Honorary Professor.
He graduated from Vefa Lisesi in 1937. In 1938, he dropped out of Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine in the third year of his education.
Ün changed the language of cinema by going beyond the melodrama mould with the film Üc Arkadas in 1958. The film was considered one of the best films of Turkish cinema. Thanks to his success in this film, he was invited to the Film Friends Association and became one of the important directors of Turkish cinema. During this period, he started to live with Fatma Girik and the couple's relationship continued for life.
In 1960, he started the era of child stars in Turkish cinema history with the film Aysecik. After his success with Aysecik, his partnership with Arsavir Alyanak at Yakut Film ended and he founded Ugur Film.
In 1990, he made his first self-financed film, Tüm Kapilar Kapaliydi, in which he turned to a subject and cinematography not seen in his previous films. This was followed by the films Gün Ortasinda Karanlik and Zikkimin Kökü, which received many awards. The last film he directed was Sinema Bir Mucizedir (2005), but due to his illness he could not complete the film and handed it over to Tunc Basaran.
He worked as a lecturer at Mimar Sinan University Cinema-TV Department.
Film worker Memduh Ün died on 16 October 2015 at the age of 95 in Bodrum where he was being treated.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Born in 1958. His childhood house overlooked a projection room, owned by the Board of Censors, where the members of the board were cutting the films. As the cutter threw away film pieces out of the window, Altioklar and his friends were eagerly waiting for them outside the window of the projection room. That was his first meeting with the art of light and images. In 1977, he started his medical education in Faculty of Medicine of Hacettepe University and became a qualified specialist of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in 1991. Mustafa Altioklar began his film career by shooting short films in 1989. After shooting five short films one after another in three years and winning many awards consecutively, he began shooting his feature films. By winning the award of "The Best New Coming Director" with his first feature film, Balcony, at Ankara Film Festival in 1992, Altioklar drew the attention of Turkish film industry to his work. With his second feature film, Istanbul Under My Wings (1995), he also brought an unexpected vivacity to the Turkish Cinema whose film production had decreased dramatically and whose number of viewers had neared to nothing during the past 20 years. After this contribution, which is now called the rebirth of Turkish Cinema's reconciliation with its audience; Altioklar carried on his road and proved the permanence of his success by shooting Kolera Street (1997). Altioklar's usage of locations as actors in his films has become a characteristic of his work. This trade mark became especially distinctive in his fourth feature The Elevator (1999), and his fifth, The Bathroom (2005). While his direction of an ensemble cast and parallel fiction was recognized as astonishing in He is in the Army now (2002), his last film Shattered Soul (2005) has taken its well-earned place in Turkish Cinema History as being the first psychological thriller ever, and was awarded with a "Bronze Gryphone" at 2006 in International St. Petersburg Film Festival. Altioklar has written all the scripts of his short and feature films.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Nuri Bilge Ceylan was born in Istanbul on January 26th, 1959. In 1976, he began studying chemical engineering at Istanbul Technical University, in a context of strong student unrest, boycotts and political polarization. In 1978, he switched courses to Electrical Engineering at Bogazici University. There, he developed a strong interest in image, entering the photography club at the university. This is also where he fed his taste for visual arts and classical music, by means of the vast resources of the faculty librarians. He also began to take film classes and attend screenings at the Film Society, which reinforced his love of cinema, born years earlier in the dark rooms of the Istanbul Cinematheque. After his 1985 Graduation, he traveled to London and Kathmandu, which allowed him to take the opportunity to reflect upon his future. He returned to Turkey for his 18 months military service and at that moment decided to dedicate his life to cinema. Thereafter, he studied film at the University Mimar Sinan, and worked as a professional photographer to make a living. After 2 years, he decided to abandon his studies to practice. He started with acting, in a short film directed by his friend Mehmet Eryilmaz, while helping with the technical production process. In late 1993, he began shooting his first short film, Koza. The film was screened at Cannes in May 1995 and became the first Turkish short film to be selected for competition. Three full-length feature films followed -the "provincial trilogy": Kasaba (1997), Mayis Sikintisi (1999) and Uzak (2002). In all of these films, Ceylan took on just about every technical role himself: the cinematography, sound design, production, editing, writing and direction. Uzak won the Grand Prix and Best Actor (for the two main actors) in Cannes in 2003, making Ceylan an internationally recognized director. Continuing his tour of festivals after Cannes, Uzak won no less than 47 awards, including 23 international prizes, and thus became the most awarded film in the history of Turkish cinema. His subsequent films were all awarded at Cannes : Iklimler won the FIPRESCI Prize in 2006, Üç Maymun won Best Director in 2008 and Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da won the Grand Prix in 2011. In 2014, his seventh feature film Kis Uykusu won the Palme d'Or as well as the FIPRESCI prize.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Osman Sinav was born in 1956 in Burdur, Turkey. He is a director and producer, known for Deli Yürek (1998), Sen Anlat Karadeniz (2018) and The Valley of the Wolves (2003). He is married to Tangül Sinav.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
He is a Turkish-Italian director, screenwriter and writer. In 1976, he first went to Perugia Foreigners University in Italy, learned Italian for a year, and then transferred to Rome La Sapienza University to study cinema. After completing his education there, he went to Accademia Navona and Accademia d'Arte Dramatica schools to study art history, costume and theater direction and took lessons from Silvio D'Amico. During this period, he worked with Julien Beck in various positions on the European tour of The Living Teather. In 1982, he was assistant director to Massimo Troisi in the film Scusate il Ritardo, and later to Maurizio Ponzi in the film Son Contento. Ferzan Özpetek worked as an assistant director for nearly 15 years with different directors such as Ricky Tognazzi, Lamberto Bava, Francesco Nuti, Sergio Citti, Giovanni Veronesi and Marco Risi.
American singer Madonna stated that Ferzan Özpetek was "a genius" in an interview with a television program. Özpetek received congratulations from names such as John Travolta and Andy Garcia after the screening of his 2009 film, Serseri Mayinlar, at the opening of the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Ferzan Özpetek served as the jury president of the committee consisting of actors Hülya Kocyigit, Zuhal Olcay, Aytac Arman, Kenan Isik and director Nuri Bilge Ceylan at the 42nd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival held in 2005.
In 2007, he was a jury member at the 75th Venice Film Festival.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Semih Kaplanoglu is one of the most acclaimed writer-director-producers of contemporary filmmaking. Born and raised in Izmir, Turkey, he received BS in Cinema-Television from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dokuz Eylul University, in 1984. Kaplanoglu made his debut feature in 2001 'Away From Home', and he was awarded Best Director in Singapore IFF. He then set up his own production company Kaplan Film and started writing and directing as an independent producer, making worldwide acclaimed international co-productions. In 2005, his second feature 'Angel's Fall' had World Premiere in Berlinale Forum and received Best Film Awards in Nantes, Kerala and Barcelona Alternativa FF. His third feature 'Egg', which premiered in 2007 at Cannes FF Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, brought Best Director awards in Fajr IFF, Valdivia IFF and Bangkok World FF. The film received around 30 awards including important national awards such as the Golden Orange (Antalya IFF) and the Golden Tulip award (Istanbul IFF). This film was the first part of the 'Yusuf Trilogy' which made Semih Kaplanoglu worldwide known as a director. In 2008 'Milk' which took part in L'Atelier of the Cinéfondation in 2008, premiered at Venice IFF Official Competition, screened at festivals around the world, earning him international awards, including Fipresci prize at the Istanbul IFF. 'Honey' the third part of the 'Yusuf Trilogy', winner of Golden Bear award in 60th Berlinale IFF, traces the origins of a soul. In 2013 Kaplanoglu was invited to Cannes FF as a member of Cinéfondation & Short Film Jury member. Semih Kaplanoglu's 2017 dated film 'Grain', received Best Film Award in 30th Tokyo Film Festival. This 35 mm Black&White shot film is a co-production of Turkey, Germany, France, Sweden and Qatar, with Jean-Marc Barr, Ermin Bravo, Grigory Dobrygin and Cristina Flutur as cast and English as original language. It took 5 years to complete the film. In 2018, he started working on 'Commitment Trilogy'. 2019 dated 'Commitment Asli' was the Academy Award Nominee of Turkey is the first digital film from the director. In 2020, 'Commitment Hasan' was finished just before the pandemic hit the world causing lock-down. Kaplanoglu is now working on the last part of the trilogy 'Commitment Fikret' which is an adaptation of well known Turkish author Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar's novel 'A Mind At Peace'. As a producer, he contributed his fellow director Aida Begic's 'Djeca' which earned a special mention in 2012 Cannes Un Certain Regard. The film is a Bosnian, German, French and Turkish co-production supported by Sarajevo Cinematograhy Fund, Eurimages, MDM, ZDF /ARTE, TRT, Fonds Sud Cinema and Torino Film Lab. Semih Kaplanoglu, born in 1963, has also written many articles based on plastic arts and cinema which have been translated into foreign languages and published in many magazines and journals between 1987 and 2003.- Director
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- Producer
Serdar Akar was born in 1964 in Ankara, Turkey. He is a director and writer, known for Gemide (1998), Dar Alanda Kisa Paslasmalar (2000) and At the Bar (2007).- Director
- Writer
- Editor
Born in Istanbul, Reha Erdem began his studies in History at Bogazici University in Istanbul. He graduated from Cinema Department of Paris 8 University. He obtained his M.A. in Plastic Arts at the same university. He shot his first feature-length film Oh Moon in 1989 as a French-Turkish co-production. He shot Run for Money in 1999, Mommy, I'm Scared in 2004, Times and Winds in 2006, My Only Sunshine, Turkish-Greek-Bulgarian co-production, in 2008 and Kosmos in 2009. His latest two films are Jîn (2012) and Singing Women (2013), Turkish-French-German co-production. He wrote all of his films except for Mommy I'm scared, for which he was one of the co-writers. He also has short films and directed a theater play, Maids (Les Bonnes) by Jean Genet. He is now working on two new projects.- Director
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- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Seyfi Teoman was born in Kayseri, Turkey in 1977. After studying economics at Bogazici University in Istanbul, he worked as assistant director in various short films and advertisements. He lived in Lodz in Poland for two years, studying film directing at Polish National Film School where his tutor and supervisor was acclaimed Polish director Mariusz Grzegorzek. He shot his graduation movie, Apartman (Apartment) in 2004 which has been officially screened in many international film festivals. His feature debut, Tatil Kitabi (Summer Book), was the only Turkish production accepted to the 58th Berlin International Film Festival. After its world premiere at Berlinale's Forum section, the film won Best Film and Fipresci Prize at the 27th Istanbul International Film Festival. His second feature, Bizim Buyuk Carsizligimiz (Our Grand Despair), is selected for the competition at Berlinale 2011. Before his death he was working on his third feature, which had been provisionally titled as Evliya (Saints).- Director
- Producer
- Production Designer
Durul Taylan was born in 1969 in Bursa, Turkey. He is a director and producer, known for Vavien (2009), Wounded Love (2016) and The Magnificent Century (2011).- Director
- Producer
- Production Designer
Yagmur Taylan was born in 1966 in Bursa, Turkey. He is a director and producer, known for Vavien (2009), Wounded Love (2016) and The Magnificent Century (2011).- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Film director, film actor, music producer, journalist, writer, screenwriter, politician, 24th Term Istanbul, 25th and 26th Term Ankara Deputy. He was born on July 7, 1962 in Adiyaman. His father's name is Ziya and his mother's name is Zeliha. He is from a family of Turkmen origin. He is a graduate of Adiyaman High School.
His father, who was a barber and a petitioner, had been the founder and provincial chairman of the Turkish Workers' Party in Adiyaman in the 1960s. Önder, whose father died of cirrhosis when he was eight years old, moved to his grandfather's house with his mother and four siblings and started to work as an apprentice at a photographer during this period. Since the salary he received from photography was not enough to support his family, he joined the Malaria War and Eradication Organization as a seasonal worker after he turned 16. Önder, who lost this job during the Nationalist Front Government, opened a tire repair shop.
After leaving Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, 2nd year; He worked as a cinema director and screenwriter, as well as a columnist for various newspapers. He gave cinema lessons in faculties. Önder is the father of 1 child.
Önder had his first directorial experience in the movie named Beynelmilel, which was also written by BKM Film. Co-directed by Muharrem Gülmez, the film was shot in 2006 and was released in January 2007. In the film, the effects of the martial law after September 12, 1980 on the local people and the instrumentalist class (gevende) in the east are told in a tragicomic way.
He has 1 movie that he wrote and directed, 1 movie that he adapted and only 1 movie that he wrote the script for. He has also acted in some movies.
Önder started his journalism career by writing columns for the newspaper Bir Gün between January 2010 and March 2010. After October 2010, he worked as a columnist in Radikal newspaper and in Özgür Gündem newspaper between May-June 2011.
In the 2011 general elections, in which he participated in the ranks of the Labor Freedom and Democracy Bloc (Independents supported by the BDP), he was elected as the 24th Term Istanbul 2nd Region Deputy and transferred to the BDP. He became HDP's Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate in the 2014 local elections, but did not win.
He was elected as a deputy from the BDP in the 24th Term Istanbul and in the 25th, 26th and 27th Terms and participated in the legislative work in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
He joined the Peace and Democracy Party by joining the ranks of the Labor, Democracy and Freedom Bloc (independents supported by the BDP) in the 24th term general elections held on 12 June 2011, being elected as an independent deputy from the Istanbul 2nd Region. He became HDP's Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate in the 2014 local elections, but did not win. In the general elections of 7 June 2015 and 1 November 2015, he was elected as the 25th and 26th Term Ankara Deputy from the Peoples' Democratic Party and entered the Turkish Grand National Assembly.- Producer
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- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Muharrem Gülmez is a producer/director who has been in the film industry since 1990. He has received wide acclaim for many projects both nationally and internationally. As a feature film director, he debuted with "Beynelmilel -The International" which received a number of prestigious accolades like 'best film', 'best male actor', and 'best female actress' from the Istanbul Film Festival primarily and many other festivals in Turkey. On an international scale, the film returned home with such successes as 'best director' and 'people's awards'. The last TV serial he produced topped the ratings for two years receiving many awards. Muharrem Gülmez is revered in Turkey as a highly successful producer/director with a unique aesthetic and visual understanding acquired from Fine Arts training combined with 20 years of experience.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Tolga Ornek started his career writing, producing and directing the award-winning documentaries ATATURK (1998), MOUNT NEMRUD: THE THRONE OF THE GODS (2000), THE HITTITES (2003) and GALLIPOLI (2005) all of which have been distributed internationally to great critical acclaim. GALLIPOLI was the fifth highest grossing film in Turkey in 2005 and has been theatrically released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In recognition of his documentary, Tolga was awarded an Order of Australia honorary medal by the Australian government.
In 2008, he co-wrote, produced and directed his first feature film, CARS OF THE REVOLUTION, based on the true story of the production of the first Turkish car in 1961. The film received critical acclaim and has won many international awards. Tolga's next film THE LOSERS CLUB which he co-wrote, produced and directed, was released in March 2011. Inspired by a cult, irreverent radio show from the 90's, the film, upon its release, became a box office and cult phenomenon and has been listed as one of the best Turkish films ever produced. Ornek's third film, which he wrote, directed and produced, LABYRINTH, a present-day espionage thriller supported by the European film fund, Eurimages, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Germany's HessenInvestFilm, was released in 2012 in Turkey and several territories in Europe and South America. LABYRINTH has received critical and popular acclaim and has paved the way for Tolga's move to Los Angeles where he's slated to begin THE SYNDICATE, a new international TV show he's created about a secret DEA Task force determined to take down an international heroin syndicate smuggling drugs from Afghanistan to Europe. In 2013, Tolga directed a romantic comedy based on his own experiences, YOUR STORY, and in 2016 he adapted and directed the Turkish version of the Mexican hit INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED.
Tolga has written, produced and directed ten films across a wide range of genres in very diverse locations such as Turkey, Egypt, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Tolga has lived in the US for more than 14 years in Rhode Island, Florida, Washington DC, New York as well as three years in London and two years in Italy. He lives in Los Angeles.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Tomris Giritlioglu was born in 1955 in Adana, Turkey. She is a producer and writer, known for Mrs. Salkım's Diamonds (1999), 80. Adim (1996) and Suyun Öte Yani (1991).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tunç Basaran was born on 1 October 1938 in Istanbul, Turkey. He was a director and writer, known for Don't Let Them Shoot the Kite (1989), Sen de Gitme (1995) and Biri ve Digerleri (1988). He was married to Füsun Önal. He died on 18 December 2019 in Turkey.- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Writer
He was born in 1974 in Gelibolu, Çanakkale. Graduated from Ege University Faculty of Communication Radio - Television - Cinema Department in 2001. He is still working as a assistant director at different TV serials. "This Is Life" is his first short film experience in 2001. His first TV Series "Kampüsistan" (2003).- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Ugur Yücel is a Turkish film actor, producer and director. He graduated from the Theater Department of the Istanbul Municipality Conservatory (Istanbul Belediye Konservatuari Tiyatro Bölüm). He took part in several plays between 1975 and 1984 in Kenter Tiyatrosu (Kenter Theatre), Tef Kabare Theatre, Dormen Theatre, and San Müzikholü. He was noticed for his roles in Selamsiz Bandosu (1987) and Muhsin Bey (1987), then gained mainstream success when he took part in Eskiya (1996).- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Yavuz Turgul was born in Istanbul, 1946. He worked as journalist for many years. In 1976 he started to write scripts with the support of Ertem Egilmez. His first directing experience came with the movie Fahriye Abla, in 1984. He worked with famous Turkish actor Sener Sen in so many movies. Turgul is one of the best directors in Turkey and he is still working on new movie projects.- Actor
- Art Director
- Writer
He spent his childhood in Ankara until he moved to Istanbul along with his family. His family is of Kurdish origin. In 1987, he dropped out of his civil engineering studies at Istanbul Technical University and joined the On Duty Theater Staff (Turkish: Nöbetçi Tiyatrosu) managed by Ferhan Sensoy. He also became chief screenwriter at Levent Kirca's long-running television sketch show, Olacak O Kadar. In 1988, he founded his own theatre company, Güldüsündürü, and staged a successful production of his self-penned Suleiman the Magnificent and Rambo (Turkish: Kanuni Sultan Süleyman and Rambo).- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Güney and his work were almost entirely unknown outside of his homeland Turkey until his 1981 escape from imprisonment in Turkey and his "discovery" the following year at the Cannes Film Festival for his autobiographical screenplay for Yol (1982), the festival's grand prize winner. Born in 1937 in a village near the southern city of Adana, Güney studied law and economics at the universities in Ankara and Istanbul, but by the age of 21 he found himself actively involved in filmmaking. As Yesilcam, the Turkish studio system, grew in strength, a handful of directors, including Atif Yilmaz, began to use the cinema as a means of addressing the problems of the people. Only state-sanctioned melodramas, war films and play adaptations had previously played in Turkish theaters, but these new filmmakers began to fill the screens with more artistic, personal and relevant pictures of Turkish & Kurdish life. The most popular name to emerge from the Young Turkish Cinema was that of Yilmaz Güney. Güney was a gruff-looking young actor who earned the moniker "Cirkin Kral," or "the Ugly King." After apprenticing as a screenwriter for and assistant to Atif Yilmaz, Güney soon began appearing in as many as 20 films a year and became Turkey's most popular actor. More than a screen idol, Güney was a Kurdish who believed in the Kurdish people and their way of life, as well as being personally committed to social change. Although the early 1960s brought some political reform to Turkey, Güney was imprisoned in 1961 for 18 months for publishing a "communist" novel. The country's political situation and Güney's relationship with the authorities only became more tense in the ensuing years. Not content with his star status atop the Turkish film industry, Güney began directing his own pictures in 1965 and, by 1968, had formed his own production company, Güney Filmcilik. Over the next few years, the titles of his films mirrored the feelings of the Kurdish people: Hope (1970); Agit (1972); _Acý (1971)_; Umutsuzlar (1971). After 1972, however, Güney would spend most of his life in prison. Arrested for harboring anarchist students, Güney was jailed during preproduction on Zavallilar (1975) (completed in 1975), and before completing Endise (1974), which was finished in 1974 by Güney's assistant, Serif Gören. This was a cherished role that Gören would repeat over the next dozen years, directing several scripts that Güney wrote laboriously while behind bars. Released from prison in 1974 as part of a general amnesty, Güney was re-arrested that same year for shooting a judge. During this stretch of incarceration, his most successful screenplays were The Herd (1978) and Düsman (1980), both directed by Zeki Ökten. After escaping from prison in 1981 and fleeing to France, Güney was greeted at the Cannes Film Festival with a Palme d'Or for Yol (1982), again directed by Gören. It was not until 1983 that Güney resumed directing, telling a brutal tale of imprisoned children in his final film, The Wall (1983), made in France with the cooperation of the French government. At that point, Güney's name was unspeakable in his homeland; eleven of the films he directed or appeared in were confiscated and reportedly burned to ashes; even so much as writing about Güney was forbidden. Despite the great international success of Yol and Duvar, Güney was ultimately a Kurdish director for the Kurdish people; his final separation from his home audience must have been even more painful to endure than his years of imprisonment.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Atif Yilmaz Batibeki was a renowned Turkish film director, screenwriter, and film producer. After finishing high school in Mersin, he attended the Law School of Istanbul University. Because of his interest in arts, he dropped out of Law School and entered the Painting Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul. After graduating from the Academy, he did some painting works in workshops. His education in painting helped him when he was directing his movies, as he once remarked. In the beginning, he worked as a film critic, made paintings and wrote film scripts to earn a living. After co-directing two movies as an assistant director to Semih Evin in 1950, his directing career began with the film Kanli Feryat (The Bloody Cry). In 1960, he established his film company "Yerli Film" with the actor Orhan Günsiray.
The most important movies in his filmography were: Hickirik (The Sob), Alageyik (The Fallow Deer), Suclu (The Guilty One), Seni Kaybedersem (If I Lose You), Yaban Gülü (The Wild Rose), Kesanli Ali Destani (Kesanli Ali's Epic), Tacsiz Kral (The Crownless King), Topragin Kani (Blood of the Earth), Olum Tarlasi (Death Field), Utanc (The Shame), Zavallilar (The Poor People), Selvi Boylum, Al Yazmalim (My Girl with the Red Scarf), Baskin (The Raid), Adak (The Sacrifice), Bir Yudum Sevgi (A Sip of Love), Adi Vasfiye (Her Name is Vasfiye), Berdel, Düs Gezginleri (Walking After Midnight), Eylül Firtinasi (After the Fall) and Mine.
He made movies that were both fluent and had mainly social messages. Most of the themes of his movies were taboo when they were produced. Particularly "Mine" and "Her Name is Vasfiye" were both revolutionary at the time of their release with themes regarding sexuality and the reaction of society.
He never gave up making movies throughout his life and even in the time when the industry stopped filmmaking due to economic reasons.
Atif Yilmaz played an important role in the professional career of notable Turkish film directors like Halit Refig, Yilmaz Güney, Serif Gören, Zeki Ökten and Ali Özgentürk.
During the Antalya Film Festival in September 2005, he was admitted to hospital with gastro-intestinal complaints. He died on 5 May 2006 in Istanbul.