International Turkish Stars (Uluslararası Türk Yıldızları)
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Haluk Bilginer is a Turkish actor. In addition to his acting career in Turkey, he has also worked in the United Kingdom and remains known for his role as Mehmet Osman in the television soap opera EastEnders (1985) during the 1980s. He has also starred in Hollywood movies as a minor actor. He played a villainous guerrilla leader in the 1987 comedy film Ishtar (1987) (one of the most notorious flops in movie history) and a Turkish Mafioso in the 2001 dark comedy film Buffalo Soldiers (2001). He played the character of Emre Celenk in the episode of Persephone in MI-5 (2002) 2004.
Bilginer was born in Izmir, Turkey. He graduated from Ankara State Conservatory in 1977 before going to England where he graduated from London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He landed his first role at EastEnders (1985). Bilginer makes his first appearance in EastEnders (1985) as Mehmet Osman on-screen in June 1985, four months after the show originally aired. His arrival coincides with a cot death story line of Sue and Ali's baby, Hassan. Mehmet appears as a recurring character from 1985-1987, setting up a cab firm named Ozcabs from inside Ali's cafe; however, he becomes a regular in 1988, when both he and his wife Guizin (Ishia Bennison) are made partners in Ali's cafe, which is renamed Café Osman. Mehmet is portrayed as a charmer, a rogue and a womanizer. Author of The EastEnders (1985) Handbook, Hilary Kingsley, has said of him, "he tries it on with every woman he meets and sometimes succeeds through a combination of good looks and sheer audacity." A serial gambler, Mehmet was shown to steer Ali into various money-losing ploys, and had a combustible marriage to Guizin, who put up with his philandering, as in the Turkish community, that's "what a wife was expected to do".
Described as "the Terrible Turk", Haluk Bilginer was one of the more popular male cast members on EastEnders (1985) during the 1980s, and he reportedly received sackfuls of fan mail, "despite playing a villain and a womanizing snake". Hilary Kingsley has said that what made the character so popular was Bilginer's Omar Sharif-style good looks and charm. Following the departure of Holland and Smith, Mehmet was eventually written out of the serial in May 1989, in a story line that signified the disbandment of the Osman family. On-screen, Mehmet returns to his native Cyprus after a fight with Guizin regarding her suspicions about Mehmet's fabricated affair with Sue. The Osman family were among many characters to leave the serial that year. Writer Colin Brake has commented, "the pace of comings and going was fast and furious during 1989, as the program me tried to find a new direction." Bilginer went into musical theatre after leaving EastEnders (1985). During the course of the show, he came to Turkey to star in the 1987 TV series Gecenin Öteki Yüzü (1987) (The Other Side of the Night), where he met his eventual first wife Zuhal Olcay, famous Turkish actress and singer. After dividing his time in London and Istanbul for six years, he left the show to stay in Turkey permanently and married Zuhal Olcay in 1992. He guest starred in an episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992) as Ismet Inönü, and went on to star in the Yavuz Özkan film "Iki Kadin (1992)" (Two Women). He then starred in various movies including the controversial Istanbul Kanatlarimin Altinda (1996) (Istanbul Under My Wings) and the famous Sawdust Tales (1997) (Master, Kill Me). After critical acclaim for these roles, he earned his first award as a supporting actor in Innocence (1997) (Innocence). After deciding he wants to pursue career on stage, he founded "Tiyatro Stüdyosu" (Theatre Studio) with his ex-wife Zuhal Olcay and Ahmet Levendoglu in 1990. After starring in various plays for six years, he had to return to screen in 1996 because of a fire that has destroyed the theater. He and his wife starred in television and movies to raise money to found another theater.
During this era, he starred in Eyvah Kizim Büyüdü (2000) (Oh My, My Daughter Has Grown), starting his second era in television. After years of work, he and his wife managed to start a second theater, called "Oyun Atölyesi" (Play Workshop). His most famous role however came after he started his second theater. He landed a role in Tatli Hayat (2001), a remake of The Jeffersons (1975). He played the role of Ihsan Yildirim, an angry and foul-mouthed, yet lovable dry cleaner. He was accompanied by legendary actress Türkan Soray, who played his wife, Asuman Dabak playing the witty cleaner, Neco playing the Greek neighbor (The enmity between Greeks and Turks were put instead of the Black-White one in the original) and Çolpan Ilhan playing Neco's wife. He and the show's breakthrough character Irfan (played by Celal Kadri Kinoglu) are regarded as the best characters in Turkish TV history. He divorced Zuhal Olcay in 2004 and began a relationship with Askin Nur Yengi, a famous Turkish singer. They married in 2006 and had a girl. After Tatli Hayat (2001), he starred in Neredesin Firuze (2004) (Where Are You Firuze?), Hirsiz Var! (2005) (Thief!) and Hacivat Karagöz Neden Öldürüldü? (2006) (Why Were Hacivat&Karagöz Murdered?). His most recent role in Polis (2007) (Police) however, is his most critically acclaimed role after Tatli Hayat (2001). His portrayal of the troubled police legend Musa Rami has gained critical acclaim from both critics and viewers, who thought the movie was too experimental. Bilginer, however, has said that he will work in all of Onur Ünlü's (screenwriter and director of Polis (2007)) movies, even as an extra if required. Bilginer played the role of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in an Is Bank commercial, which first aired on 10 November 2007 during the 69th commemorations of Atatürk's death. In 2009 , He play in famous Turkish series Ezel (2009) during the second season. He became famous with this role around many countries . Bilginer co-starred in the 2009 American thriller The International (2009) as Ahmet Sunay, a Turkish high-tech missile guidance system dealer. He was accompanied by Clive Owen and Naomi Watts in this movie. Bilginer plays Aydin, an imposing Grey-haired former actor, in Winter Sleep (2014), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Kivanc Tatlitug was born on October 27, 1983 in Adana, Turkey.
Graduated from Istanbul Kultur University Communication Designs-Multimedia and Cinema. His mother is from Edirne, Turkey. His paternal grandmother is Bosnian immigrant from Sarajevo. His paternal grandfather is Albanian immigrant from Pristina. His professional career started with modeling in 2002. After modeling career, his acting career began with the TV Series "Gumus" (2005) by the leading role "Mehmet". "Gumus" is known as first Turkish TV series which was sold to Middle East. He had guest role in fantasy series Acemi Cadi (2006) of Turkish adaptation "Sabrina The Teenage Witch" with Merve Bolugur for second time.
Afterwards Kivanc Tatlitug has gained large fan base abroad predominantly in Middle East, Balkans, North Africa and Turkic Republics. He was invited by many Film Festivals like Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Muscat, Doha Tribeca (as a Guest of Honor) and won many honorary awards.
Right after "Gumus" he continued his acting career in leading roles as Halil in the series "Menekse ile Halil", as Muzaffer in the movie "Amerikalilar Karadeniz'de", as Behlül in the TV series "Ask-i Memnu", as a guest star Sekiz in the TV series "Ezel", as Kuzey in the TV series "Kuzey Guney", as Muzaffer Tayyip Uslu in the movie "Kelebegin Ruyasi", as Kurt Seyit in the TV series "Kurt Seyit ve Shura" , Cesur in the TV series "Cesur ve Guzel", Ali in the movie "Hadi Be Oglum" and as Saruhan in the movie "Organize Isler Sazan Sarmali" and as Kadir Adali in the Tv series called " Carpisma ".
Throughout his acting career he won numerous "Best Actor" awards such as 36th Golden Butterfly TV Awards (2009), 17th Sadri Alisik Theatre and Cinema Awards (2012), 39th Butterfly TV Awards (2012), 18th Golden Lens Award (2012), Siyad-Turkish Film Critics Association Best Actor Award (2014),
"Creators of Their Own Miracles Award" in 44.Golden Butterfly Awards (2017) and "The Male Brand Award" presented by Marketing Turkey in 2018.
Recently, Kivanc Tatlitug was awarded as "Best Actor in Comedy " in 19th Sadri Alisik Theater and Cinema Awards (2019).
Furthermore, Kivanc Tatlitug also won "Best Actor" awards from many Universities, Educational and Public Institutions internationally.
Off-screen, Kivanc Tatlitug is the youngest Unicef Goodwill Ambassador ever in the world and continues working for children.- Kenan Imirzalioglu was born in Ankara at June 18th, 1974. Imirzalioglu finished elementary school in Ankara, when he was 12. He went to middle school and high school at Ankara. Then he moved to Istanbul for his University education. He graduated from Yildiz Technical University. He has a Bachelor of Mathematics degree.
In 1997, he attended Best Model of Turkey finals and he won the contest. Then he qualified for Best Model of the World contest. He also won the contest and achieved the title "Best Model of The World".
For the first time, a Turkish model won the title Best Model of The World. After winning the model contest, famous Turkish director Osman Sinav offered him a leading role as Yusuf Miroglu in the new TV serial Deli Yurek which was the first Turkish TV series exported internationally in 1999. The series broadcaster between 1999 - 2002. He also had The lead role for the movie version of the series 'Deli Yurek : Boomerang Cehennemi' in 2001).
He went to US for acting and language education after Deli Yurek projects. After his return he joined the cast of new TV series Alacakaranlik which was on TV screens in 2003 - 2005. In between, at 2004, he played a leading role at Yazi Tura movie which won 16 awards in different film festivals. Most impressing award of all was "The Best Actor" award at Adana Altin Koza Festival, one of the major movie award organization of Turkey.
Between 2005-2007, he enacted "Mehmet Kosovali" at white screen with the TV Series Aci Hayat. In 2006, He took the leading role in his third movie Son Osmanli Yandim Ali followed by Kabadayi in 2007 which was his fourth movie project between TV series projects.
In 2009, He started a new project at white screen with Ezel which was his carriers best and up swinging role. The series became The most popular and top rated series in Turkish television history between 2009 - 2011. Along with TV series, His successful career continued with Ejder Kapani 2010 and with Uzun Hikaye in 2012.
Karadayi (2012-2015), he started his careers 5th TV series with Mahir Kara role. After this series at 2017, he starred the movie of Cingoz Recai which is fallowed by another TV series Fatih . This was one of the most budgeted TV series of Turkish Television at which he gave life to the character of Fatih Sultan Mehmet who is one of the most important figures of Ottoman and Turkish history.
Recently, he is presenting the longest TV contest Kim Milyoner Olmak Ister. Also he joined the cast of TV series Alef for 8 episodes to be broadcaster at online TV platform Blu TV. - Actor
- Writer
- Director
While studying at the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management of Bogazici University, he started drawing comics for the Turkish humor magazine Leman. In August 1995 he did his first stand-up comedy show in "Leman Culture Center" performing with no serious career intentions as a comedian. However, after the positive response of the audience, he continued his show to attract larger crowds in Besiktas Cultural Center where he has appeared in over a thousand stand-up comedy shows since, becoming so popular that tickets have sold for 250TL (approx. US$140).
His movie career started in 1998 with a co-starring role in the comedy Her Sey Çok Güzel Olacak (1998), directed by Ömer Vargi, and continued with a role in Vizontele (2001), directed by Yilmaz Erdogan and Ömer Faruk Sorak. He achieved his greatest success by starring in and writing big-budget science-fiction parody G.O.R.A. (2004), also directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak, which despite spending several years in production because of financial and other technical problems became a box-office hit and described by Rekin Teksoy as a strong sign that showed that popular cinema was successful in appealing to wide audiences. He maintained this success with a starring role in the comedy feature movie Magic Carpet Ride (2005) AKA 'Magic Carpet Ride', also directed by Yilmaz Erdogan, for which he won Best Supporting Actor at the 11th Sadri Alisik Awards, and his directorial debut with The Magician (2006), co-directed by Ali Taner Baltaci, for which he won Best Actor at the 34th Brussels International Independent Film Festival and 12th Sadri Alisik Awards. He has since repeated his box office success with a sequel to G.O.R.A. (2004) called A.R.O.G (2008), also co-directed by Ali Taner Baltaci, and comedy Western parody called Yahsi Bati (2009), directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak. That same year, he co-starred, alongside veteran actor Sener Sen, in the police drama Hunting Season (2010), written and directed by Yavuz Turgul, and made a special appearance in drama Zefir (2010), written and directed by Belma Bas. After two years he also acted in Ferzan Özpetek's A Magnificent Haunting (2012). After he filmed his last stand-up comedy show CM101MMXI Fundamentals (2013) directed by Murat Dündar, he announced that for the next few years he will stop his stand-up comedy shows to have a rest.
Along his professional career, he has won numerous awards and appeared in more than 4000 stand-up comedy shows, took part in 10 movies and contributed as a dubbing performer in 4 movies.- Born on July 5 in Istanbul, Tuba majored in Costume & Design at the Mimar Sinan University of the Fine Arts from where she graduated in the year of 2004. This year also brought along her first acting gig as she starred in the successful TV show, 'Cemberimde Gül Oya', portraying the character of 'Zarife'. This was her first acting experience and a strong start to a successful acting career. The following year she was awarded 'Best Actress' in the 'Republic of Serbia and Montenegro International TV Festival' for her portrayal of 'Gülizar', in the TV movie, 'Gülizar'.
In 2005, Tuba starred in the TV series; 'Ihlamurlar Altinda', in which she gave life to the character 'Filiz'. This show became enormously successful not only in Turkey, but in many Middle Eastern countries. Between 2007 and 2009, Tuba portrayed the leading character of 'Asiye' in the hit TV show, 'Asi. 'Asi' was later nominated 'Best Soap Opera' at the '51 Monte Carlo Television Festival'. She went on to act in a number of highly successful TV shows such as; 'Gonülcelen', '20 Minutes', 'Black Money Love', and currently, 'The Brave and the Beautiful'. The movies she starred in are; 'Sinav' (Omer Faruk Sorak), 'My Father and My Son' (Cagan Irmak), 'Ask Your Heart' (Yusuf Kurcenli), 'Memories of the Wind' (Ozcan Alper), 'Tight Dress' (Hiner Saleem). Movies Tuba is in that are currently in post-production are; 'More' (Onur Saylak) and 'Istanbul Red' (Ferzan Ozpetek) . Her authentic and captivating performances in all of her movies and TV shows have earned Tuba her unique place in the acting world as well as allowing her to reach out to large masses of viewers all over the world, especially in Turkey and the Middle Eastern Region.
With her performance as 'Melek', in '20 Minutes' (2013), Tuba was nominated 'Best Actress' at the '42 International Emmy Awards', which makes her the first ever 'EMMY' nominee to come out of Turkey. Tuba has also won the 'Best Actress Award' at the '14th International Giuseppe Sciacca Awards' held in Vatican City.
Tuba is also a 'UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador' who works as an advocate for Children's Rights. - Producer
- Director
- Writer
Nuri Bilge Ceylan is a Turkish filmmaker whose introspective and visually stunning films have garnered international acclaim. His career trajectory, marked by a shift from engineering to filmmaking, is a testament to his dedication to artistic expression and exploration of the human condition.
Ceylan's early interest in image and visual arts was nurtured during his studies at Bogaziçi University. His involvement in the photography club and exposure to cinema through film classes and screenings at the Film Society ignited his passion for filmmaking. After graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering and completing his military service, Ceylan chose to pursue his cinematic dreams, studying film at Mimar Sinan University while working as a professional photographer.
Ceylan's first foray into filmmaking was as an actor in a short film directed by his friend Mehmet Eryilmaz. He soon transitioned behind the camera, directing his debut short film, "Koza" (1995), which made history as the first Turkish short film selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival. This early success set the stage for his "provincial trilogy": "Kasaba" (1997), "Mayis Sikintisi" (1999), and "Uzak" (2002). In these films, Ceylan took on multiple roles, showcasing his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to craft deeply personal and evocative stories. "Uzak" (2002) won the Grand Prix and Best Actor awards at Cannes, catapulting Ceylan to international recognition.
Ceylan's subsequent films continued to explore the complexities of human relationships and the nuances of emotional landscapes. "Iklimler" (2006) won the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes, while "Uç Maymun" (2008) earned him the Best Director award. His masterpiece "Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da" (2011) won the Grand Prix at Cannes, solidifying his reputation as a filmmaker of exceptional talent. "Kis Uykusu" (2014), his seventh feature film, garnered the Palme d'Or and the FIPRESCI prize at Cannes, further cementing his position as a leading figure in world cinema.
In recent years, Ceylan has continued to challenge himself with ambitious projects. His 2023 film "Kuru Otlar Ustüne" ("About Dry Grasses") is a visually stunning and emotionally charged drama that explores themes of isolation, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in life. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Actress award for Merve Dizdar.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan's films are characterized by their slow pace, meticulous attention to detail, and exploration of complex emotional states. His visual style, often inspired by his background in photography, creates a sense of atmosphere and mood that draws viewers into the world of his characters. Ceylan's unflinching portrayal of human relationships, combined with his poetic visual language, have earned him a dedicated following and a place among the most respected filmmakers of our time.- 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).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Beren Saat (born on 26 February 1984) is a Turkish actress, best known for her leading roles as Yasemin Unsal in the ATV series Hatirla Sevgili (2006-2008), as Bihter Yöreoglu Ziyagil in the Kanal D series Ask-i Memnu (2008-2010), as Fatmagül Ketenci Ilgaz in Fatmagül'ün Suçu Ne? (2010-2012), and as Derin Çelik/Yagmur Özden in the drama series Intikam (2013-2014), a spin-off from the television series Revenge.- Melisa Sözen is a Turkish actress, best known for her performance in Palme D'or winning Winter Sleep (2014).
Starting her professional career at the very early age of 15, Sözen starred in many Turkish TV hits including The Magnificient Century (2011), Subat (2012) and 7YUZ (2017). Melisa attracted international attention with her phenomenal acting in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Palme D'or winning Winter Sleep in 2014. Following her role in the third season of Eric Rochant's influential series Le Bureau des Legendes in 2017, her first leading role in a French movie came in 2019 with Damien veut changer le monde.
After achieving an extra-ordinary level of critical success in her homeland by winning both Theater Critics Association's and Film Critics Association's awards for the actress in a leading role in 2015 with her performances in The Knot of the Heart and Winter Sleep, Sözen frequently was invited as a jury member to many international film festivals including Guanajuato International Film Festival (Mexico, 2015), Istanbul International Film Festival (Turkey, 2016), Sarajevo Film Festival (Bosnia Herzegovina, 2017) and Cannes Series (France, 2018). The actress speaks English and French. - Actress
- Costume Designer
- Producer
Belçim Bilgin was born in Ankara in 1983. At the age of 14, she started studying acting at the Ankara Art Theater. While studying at Hacettepe University, she started her professional acting career by starring in the film 'Zero Kilometer', which was opened at the Cannes Film Festival Competition Department. After playing in a motion picture in Paris, where he lived for two years, she returned to Turkey and made her name in a short time by acting in many important television series and motion pictures. Her films have competed at selected festivals.
'Silent', starring her, was named the best short film at Cannes. She starred in the Hollywood production of 'Backstabbing For Beginners' and the Oscar nominated film 'The Butterfly's Dream'. The Belgian Scholar has appeared in front of the camera together with such world famous actors as John Malkovich, Ben Kingsley, Theo James, JulianSands, Monica Bellucci in various motion pictures.
Having started producing with the films 'Rhino Season' and 'Butterfly's Dream', she founded her own production company Big Bloom in 2019 and began developing projects as a creative producer. Recently, she has also come to prominence with her activist identity. With the motto "sustainable world, livable life", he became involved in social projects related to issues to which she showed sensitivity. As an anonymous scholar, a supporter of UNFPA Turkey and an ocean ambassador for Greenpeace, he is leading remarkable promotional efforts.
The film 'Dad's Violin', which was released on Netflix in 2022 starring the artist, was a great success with 12 million views in 2 weeks globally.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Hazal Kaya (born 1 October 1990) is a Turkish actress.
Kaya was born in Konya, Turkey. Her motherland is Gaziantep. She attended Gaziosmanpasa elementary school and Liceo Italiano di Istanbul. Kaya started her acting career with Acemi Cadi (2006) Turkish adaptation "Sabrina The Teenage Witch". Then she appeared in Sila (2006). In 2007 she was in the main cast as Ozge who suffers from loss of memory at 1999 Yalova Earthquake in popular series Genco (2007). In 2008, with popular soap opera Forbidden Love (2008) based from classic novel, her face became known to the audience. At the same time she took some private acting lessons from Ayla Algan and Ümit Çirak. Her first lead role was in Adini Feriha Koydum (2011) In that time, she also appeared in the Bingo detergent commercials with her mother. In late 2012, she left the cast of Adini Feriha Koydum and started playing leading role in historical series Son Yaz - Balkanlar 1912 (2012) with Furkan Palali, Tardu Flordun and Tugce Kazaz. However, the series ended after a few episodes due to low ratings. She later appeared in the 2013 series A.S.K. (2013) which also ended after 13 episodes. In 2015 she appeared in Maral: My Most Beautiful Story (2015) at TV8, for 17 episodes. In 2017, she worked together with Med Yapim again with Our Story (2017) After Misafir (2021) had an early finale after 4 episode, but later she played in a Netflix series Midnight at the Pera Palace (2022).
She had with minor role her first movie experience in 2011 in franchise Çalgi Çengi (2011) with Ahmet Kural. She played as Berna C in hit crime series Behzat Ç: An Ankara Detective Story (2010) and franchise film Behzat Ç.: Seni Kalbime Gömdüm (2011). Since 2010, The series continues. Although her character dead, she played in some episodes. She played in Onur Unlu's films hit films Kirik Kalpler Bankasi (2017) and Let's Sin (2014). With Engin Altan Duzyatan, she played in Bu Son Olsun (2012). She played in Benden Ne Olur (2022) , The Blue Wave (2013) , Ay Büyürken Uyuyamam (2011).- Saadet Aksoy is a Turkish born actress speaking fluent English, basic French and Italian. She studied English Language and Literature at Bogazici University in Istanbul and started taking film and acting classes while working on short films, taking parts in stage productions, commercials and TV series.
Aksoy made her debut nationally and internationally with Egg by Semih Kaplanoglu, which premiered in 2007 at Directors' Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival, bringing her many acting awards at internationally acclaimed film festivals, such as Sarajevo Film Festival and Valdivia International Film Festival. With Eastern Plays, which also premiered at Directors' Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival in 2009 and Love in Another Language, which brought her a number of national awards, she kept gaining more attention both in her home country and at the international festival circuit. After taking parts in American productions, A Beautiful Life by Alejandro Chomski and The Rebound by Bart Freundlich, she got more international attention with her portrayal of "Aska" in Twice Born directed by Sergio Castellitto with Penelope Cruz and Emile Hirsch. She has recently finished shooting Marco Pontecorvo-directed Italian series Ragion di Stato. Aksoy has also been a jury member in many film festivals such as Cairo Film Festival, Istanbul Film Festival, Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, and Sarajevo Film Festival. - Director
- Producer
- Actor
Fatih Akin was born in 1973 in Hamburg of Turkish parentage. He began studying Visual Communications at Hamburg's College of Fine Arts in 1994. His collaboration with Wueste Film also dates from this time. In 1995, he wrote and directed his first short feature, "Sensin - You're The One!" ("Sensin - Du bist es!"), which received the Audience Award at the Hamburg International Short Film Festival. His second short film, "Weed" ("Getürkt", 1996), received several national and international festival prizes. His first full length feature film, "Short Sharp Shock" ("Kurz und schmerzlos", 1998) won the Bronze Leopard at Locarno and the Bavarian Film Award (Best Young Director) in 1998. His other films include: "In July" ("Im Juli", 2000), "Wir haben vergessen zurückzukehren" (2001), "Solino" (2002), the Berlinale Golden Bear-winner and winner of the German and European Film Awards "Head-On" ("Gegen die Wand", 2003), and "Crossing the Bridge - The Sound of Istanbul" (2005).- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Mehmet Günsür is a Turkish actor with Tatar roots. His mother, Sibel, was a lecturer, while his father, Teoman, was an industrial engineer who graduated from the prestigious Middle East Technical University. Günsür's older sister, Zeynep Günsür Yüceil, is a renowned choreographer of modern ballet and also works as a lecturer.
Günsür's journey into acting began at the tender age of seven when he appeared in various commercials. At fourteen, he landed a role in Okan Uysaler's "Geçmis Bahar Mimozalari," sharing the screen with seasoned actors like Rutkay Aziz, Filiz Akin, and Müsfik Kenter. After graduating from the Italian High School in Istanbul, he pursued a degree in communications at Marmara University, graduating with honors.
During his university years and after, Günsür's creative pursuits extended beyond acting. He performed in concerts with a music group and even ran a restaurant for four years. However, his path took a decisive turn when a friend encouraged him to audition for Ferzan Özpetek's film "Hamam." Günsür's trial shot impressed the director, leading to his casting in the film. This experience ignited his passion for acting, and he decided to pursue it as a career.
Günsür's breakthrough role came in the 2002 Italian film "L'Ultimo Harem" (The Last Harem), where he played the lead role of Safi. The film's success propelled him to international recognition, and he continued to take on diverse roles in both Turkish and Italian cinema.
In Turkey, Günsür starred in several notable films, including "O Simdi Asker," "Anlat Istanbul," and "Ask Tesadüfleri Sever." His performances garnered critical acclaim and solidified his position as one of the leading actors in Turkish cinema. He also made a significant impact on television with his role as Prince Mustafa in the historical drama series "Muhtesem Yüzyil" (The Magnificent Century).
Günsür's international career continued to flourish with roles in Italian films like "Non Ti Muovere" (Don't Move) and "Signorina Effe." His ability to convincingly portray complex characters and his dedication to his craft earned him praise from both critics and audiences.
In 2014, Günsür made his debut in American television with the series "The Gift," further expanding his reach and showcasing his talent to a global audience.
Throughout his career, Mehmet Günsür has consistently chosen challenging and diverse roles, demonstrating his versatility as an actor. His ability to seamlessly transition between Turkish, Italian, and English-speaking productions has made him a sought-after talent in the international film industry.
In his personal life, Günsür married Italian documentarian Caterina Mongio in 2006, and the couple has three children. He divides his time between Rome and Istanbul, maintaining a successful career in both countries.
Mehmet Günsür's dedication to his craft, his captivating performances, and his ability to connect with audiences across cultures have solidified his place as a respected figure in the world of cinema. As he continues to take on new and exciting projects, his star is sure to shine even brighter in the years to come.- Hande Erçel is a distinguished actress known for her roles in 'The Daughters of the Sun' (2015), 'Hayat: Love Without Words' (2016), 'Halka' (2019), Love Is in the Air (2020) and 'Another Love' (2023).
Raised in Turkey, Hande pursued her education at the 'Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.' Discovered for her talents, she made her debut with minor roles in series like 'Calikusu,' 'Tatar Ramazan,' and 'Cilgin Dershane Universitede.' Her breakthrough came with the leading role of Selin Yilmaz in the youth series 'Günesin Kizlari.'
In addition to her acting career, Hande won the title of 'Miss Turkey' in 2012, signaling her early success in the modeling industry. This multifaceted talent has continued to make significant contributions to the entertainment world, with a diverse range of roles in various genres. - Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Born 17 August 1989 in Istanbul, Farah moved to the UK at the age of 15. She studied French, Media, and Drama in Sixth Form in Maidenhead, Berkshire, where she received her first award for acting from Theresa May. Her first professional acting experience in theatre was 'Closer' by Patrick Marber with the role of Alice, in Canterbury. A graduate from University of Kent, Drama and Theatre Studies & French Department, she started her professional career on screen with the record-breaking Turkish TV series, 'Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman Ki', where she was given the opportunity to star as one of the leading roles before she had thought upon a pathway in acting. After 2 years of experience in the television industry, Farah made her powerful film debut with Turkey's nominee for The Academy Awards, 'The Butterfly's Dream' (2013) where she was highly acclaimed for her performance. She continued her success in the well-known TV series 'Magnificent Century: Kösem', which has been sold to 43 countries and 'Kurt Seyit & Shura', one of the highly preferred Turkish drama series around the world, currently being shown in 52 countries. The song 'Gel ya da git' performed by Farah for the soundtrack of the film 'Whisper If I Forget' topped the national charts for numeral consecutive weeks. She has been nominated and received many awards for her films, including SIYAD Turkish Film Critiques Association Awards, one of the most important award ceremonies in the national film industry. Farah also attended film festivals as an international jury member with members such as Guillermo Arriaga, Hayet Benkara, Pierre-Henri Deleau, and Nathan Silver. In addition to her achievements, she is a strong supporter of WWF, HeForShe campaign and Amnesty International Turkey.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Berguzar Korel, born in 1982 in Istanbul, graduated from the Theatre Department of Mimar Sinan State Conservatory. She acted in many plays and short films during her school life including the play Kuvayi Milliye at State Theatre. She went on to act in high profile projects, namely "1001 Nights", "Karadayi", "Kurtlar Vadisi Irak" and "Wounded Love (Vatanim Sensin)".- Actress
- Soundtrack
Serenay Sarikaya was born 1 July 1992 in Ankara, Turkey. She is a Turkish actress and model. Sarikaya started to study at Antalya Saime Salih Konca High School. But she moved to Istanbul. So, she graduated from theatre department of Fine Arts High School in Istanbul.
At the age of fourteen, she had minor roles in the movie "Saskin" (2006) and the film "Plajda" (2008). Her first leading role is in the fantasy child series Peri Masali (2008). With Kaan Urgancioglu, she played in series Limon Agaci (2008) and english short film "Hoscakal".
Her breakthrough role is "Sofia" in hit comedy crime series Adanali (2008-10). She came to international attention for her roles in series "Lale Devri", "Medcezir" Turkish remake of The O.C, "Fi" based on the novel and fantasy series "Sahmaran".
With Nejat Isler, she continued her movie career in franchise film series "Behzat C. Ankara Yaniyor" and "Ikimizin Yerine". Since 2019, Sarikaya performs in "Alice Müzikali", which a musical adaption based on the Alice in Wonderland. She received critical acclaim and won numerous accolades, including two Golden Butterfly Awards.
At the age of fifteen, she participated in a beauty competition and received a special award from the jury at the European Youth Beauty Competition. Later, Sarikaya became the first runner-up at Miss Turkey 2010. In addition to her acting career, Sarikaya has appeared in many advertising films and is the face of numerous brands. In 2014, she was chosen as the Woman of the Year by GQ Turkey.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Halit Ergenç (born 30 April 1970) is a Turkish actor.
Halit Ergenç was born as the son of Yesilçam-era actor Sait Ergenç on 30 April 1970 in Istanbul. He completed his secondary education at Besiktas Atatürk High School in 1989 and entered Istanbul Technical University to study Marine Engineering. He graduated from Operetta and Musical Theatre Departments of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. He supported himself working as a computer operator and marketer. He briefly worked as a backing vocalist and dancer for Ajda Pekkan and Leman Sam.
In 1996, Ergenç began acting at the Dormen Theatre and had his first leading role in the musical The King and I. He established himself on television with his part in the series Kara Melek. He continued working in theatre with plays such as Kiss Me, Kate, Tatli Charity, Beni Seviyor, Kral ve Ben, Amphitrion 2000, Evita, Hayalet and Ötekiler and Sarkilar Susarsa. Following appearances in the series Köse Kapmaca and Böyle mi Olacakti, he went to New York and acted in the musical The Adventures of Zak.
In 2000, he participated in the films Hiç Yoktan Ask and Ölümün El Yazisi and then the series Dedem, Gofret ve Ben and Zerda where he starred opposite Ece Uslu. Then, he had appearances in a number of plays such as ''Bugün Git Yarin Gel, Popcorn, Arapsaçi and Sevgilime Göz Kulak Ol. In 2004], he starred in the series Aliye with Sanem Çelik and Nejat Isler.
In 2005 and 2006, Ergenç acted in the films Babam ve Oglum directed by Çagan Irmak, The Net 2.0, Tramway and Ilk Ask. Beginning in 2006, he starred as Onur Aksal in the hit series Binbir Gece which was on air until 2009. During this period he also had roles in the films Devrim Arabalari which was based on a true story and Aci Ask. Ergenç also starred as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the film Dersimiz Atatürk which was also based on a true story. Makeup artists transformed his face into Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In 2011 he starred as Suleiman the Magnificent in the hit series Muhtesem Yüzyil until 2014.
Ergenç was involved in the Gezi protests of 2013, appearing in newspaper photos wearing a Bob Marley T-shirt and surgical mask for protection against tear gas. His presence made for interesting copy, since he at once played the role of one of the Ottoman Empire's foremost leaders in the show Muhtesem Yüzyil, and at the same time he was protesting the actions of a government very much invested in celebrating Ottoman glory. Ergenç was subsequently summoned with other cultural leaders to a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, and Erdogan apparently quizzed Ergenç on Ottoman words used by Suleiman, the character whom Ergenç played in Muhtesem Yüzyil.
After, he played Fatali Khan Khoyski who the first Prime Minister of the independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in Ali & Nino. He played in the movie Istanbul Kirmizisi directed by Ferzan Özpetek. In 2016, he started playing opposite his wife Bergüzar Korel in Vatanim Sensin.
Ergenç's mother was of Albanian descent. He is married to actress Bergüzar Korel with whom he has a son named Ali. He has stated that he likes Zeki Demirkubuz's style and Ferzan Özpetek's emotion, but prefers to work the most with Reha Erdem and Çagan Irmak, whom he describes as both young and talented directors.
In 2017, Ergenç visited Pakistan and attended the Lux Style Awards-where he was honoured with the International Icon award-due to his popularity in the country. In his accepting speech, Ergenç said that he had grown up knowing Pakistan as a "brother country."- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
He was born in Elazig, Turkey in 1971. He grew up in Ankara and graduated from a school related to tourism. His real work is tourism business. He had an tourism agency in Turkey. Then he wanted to go to USA and he didn't want to come back to Turkey. His plane ticket was for 11th September of 2001. When he was on the plane another plane crashed into the twin towers and his plane had to turn back and he returned to Turkey. Then he changed his mind and wanted to stay in Turkey again. After this event the producer Osman Sinav met with him and he offered him the role in Kurtlar Vadisi. Kurtlar Vadisi was his first acting experience but he is the leading actor in it. Mr. Sasmaz is the owner of Pana Entertainment which is the production company of Valley of the Wolves series. Muhammed Necati Sasmaz is married and he has one child.- 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.- Ozgu Namal was born in Istanbul in 1978. Her maternal family is Turkish immigrant from Thessaloniki, Greece. Her paternal family is Turkish immigrant from North Macedonia. At the age of 14 she was already on the theater stage. In 1996 she graduated from Uskudar Cumhuriyet High School. In 1998 she was admitted into the Theater Section of the Istanbul State Conservatory. During the conservatory years she took part professionally in plays such as "Tekrar Cal Sam", "Yan Etkili Konusmalar", and "Taraf Tutmak". Since 1998 when she started her performing career she has had lead roles in cinema films such as Beynelmilel, Polis, and Mutluluk and TV series such as Yeditepe Istanbul and Hanimin Ciftligi.
With her role in the play "Kiralik Oyun" in 2005 Namal was given "The Most Successful Comedy Actress of the Year" award at the Afife Theater Awards and Sadri Alisik Theater Awards. In 2007 she was given "Best Female Actress" award at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival with the film "Mutluluk" and also at the Istanbul International Film Festival with the film "Beynelmilel".
Namal has received "Best Female Actress" award in several local and foreign festivals such as Pune International Film Festival, Funchal International Film Festival, Oxford Film Festival, and Yesilcam Awards. - Actor
- Writer
- Music Department
Firat is of Turkish, Circassian and Arab descent. His father is singer Nihat Firat. After finishing high school, he studied radio and television broadcasting in Sweden. He then returned to Ankara and took acting classes in Ankara University. Firat graduated from the theatre department of Ankara University and took his master's degree in Film and Drama from Kadir Has University. He founded the "Moda Theatre" and "Das Das" in Istanbul, and "Sanat Mahal" in Bursa. He has appeared in more than fifteen films since 2005 and has won many awards. In October 2017 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey chose Firat as a Goodwill Ambassador in Turkey.- Deniz Akdeniz, best known for his role in the Max Original hit "The Flight Attendant" alongside Kaley Cuoco and Zosia Mamet. He recently starred with Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the endearing drama "You Hurt My Feelings" from acclaimed director Nicole Holofcener. Part of the incredible ensemble cast of Craig Gillespie's "Dumb Money". He will next appear alongside Kaitlin Olson in the new ABC show "High Potential" by Drew Goddard.
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Kerem Bursin was born on June 4th, 1987, in Istanbul, Turkey. Bursin spent his childhood on the move and was raised internationally living in 7 different countries. After years of living an expat life him and his family settled in Sugar Land, Texas. While in high school in Texas, he developed an interest in acting. In a play he did his senior year he was recognized and won many awards including the best actor of the state of Texas. Bursin later attended Emerson College in Boston, where he majored in Marketing Communications with a focus on Public Relations. However constantly taking roles acting in numerous student films and plays, he gained attention on campus as an actor. He began to focus his studies on acting and finished his last semester of College in Los Angeles, which led him to stay there.
Bursin's first role on television, was Roger Corman's Sharktopus (2010) then again in 2012 starred in another one of Corman's pictures: Palace of the Damned (2013). After spending a few years in Los Angeles, Bursin decided to move temporarily to his home town Istanbul, Turkey. Shortly after his move he started to pursue his ambition in acting again. After a couple of months his career in Turkey would take off, landing the lead role in director Altan Dönmez and D-Production's TV show Waiting for the Sun (2013) which would become a hit phenomenon in Turkey as well as surrounding countries. The Turkish audience would meet Bursin for the first time at his portrayal of Kerem Sayer, an 18 year old high school rebel. In a short amount of time Bursin won the crowd over, the role landing him several awards, commercial deals and recognition throughout regions across Eastern Europe, Turkey and the Middle East.
After shooting 56 episodes and calling it a series finale for Waiting for the Sun (2013), Bursin soon was approached by one of Turkey's famous and important directors Çagan Irmak to be in his film Whisper If I Forget (2014) which Bursin would accept the role, Erhan, a young bass player with a passion for music taking place in 70's Istanbul. Bursin's small but pivotal role in the film gained him more recognition and awards.
Continuing his career climb Bursin was offered to be the face of Turkey most popular denim brand MAVI which he currently still is.
For his next season on TV, Bursin and director Altan Dönmez re-joined the producers at D-Porductions for a different kind of show, one that would spring a lot of curiosity and hype, the Turkish remake of the famous Italian mafia TV-Series Il Ristretto D'Honore. Matter of Respect (2014) had a lot of critics skeptical whether or not Bursin would be able to pull off the role of a late twenties Turkish bad boy who would get sucked into the life of the Turkish mafia where revenge would drive him to reach the top of the mafia tree. Leaving critics surprised and again gaining the appreciation of the audience the show became a hit.