İsmet Ekin Koç, a well-known Turkish actor and musician, was born on June 21, 1992. After leaving Antalya, he pursued Business Administration (English) at Istanbul Bilgi University and began studying online education sociology as well.
Koç made his acting debut in the movie Senden Bana Kalan, an adaptation of the Korean movie A Millionaire’s First Love. He played the lead role of “Özgür Arıca” and won an Ayhan Işık Special Award for his performance. He then appeared as the one-eyed soldier “Mehmed” in the British movie Ali and Nino, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was based on Kurban Said’s novel (1937). Maria Valverde and Adam Bakri were the lead actors in the film.
Koç also starred in the film Bizim İçin: Şampiyon, which was based on the life story of jockey Halis Karataş. In addition, he produced and acted in the short film App.
Koç’s films Okul Tıraşı,...
Koç made his acting debut in the movie Senden Bana Kalan, an adaptation of the Korean movie A Millionaire’s First Love. He played the lead role of “Özgür Arıca” and won an Ayhan Işık Special Award for his performance. He then appeared as the one-eyed soldier “Mehmed” in the British movie Ali and Nino, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was based on Kurban Said’s novel (1937). Maria Valverde and Adam Bakri were the lead actors in the film.
Koç also starred in the film Bizim İçin: Şampiyon, which was based on the life story of jockey Halis Karataş. In addition, he produced and acted in the short film App.
Koç’s films Okul Tıraşı,...
- 6/23/2023
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Best known for his acclaimed, hit documentaries Amy and Senna (at least here in the United States), director Asif Kapadia actually began his career with narrative dramas. He returned to his roots this year at Sundance with Ali & Nino, a sweeping period epic set in around World War I. Picked up by IFC Films for a release this week, the first trailer has now arrived.
We said in our review, “There is nary a film genre more tried and true than the war-time romance. From Casablanca to Doctor Zhivago to The English Patient, the structure allows for a micro conflict injected into a macro scenario. From a script by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liasons, Atonement), adapted from the novel under the pseudonym Kurban Said, and directed by Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy), Ali and Nino strives for the status of epic but falls considerably short.”
Starring María Valverde, Mandy Patinkin, Adam Bakri,...
We said in our review, “There is nary a film genre more tried and true than the war-time romance. From Casablanca to Doctor Zhivago to The English Patient, the structure allows for a micro conflict injected into a macro scenario. From a script by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liasons, Atonement), adapted from the novel under the pseudonym Kurban Said, and directed by Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy), Ali and Nino strives for the status of epic but falls considerably short.”
Starring María Valverde, Mandy Patinkin, Adam Bakri,...
- 11/15/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
★★★☆☆ Ali and Nino marks an unexpected return to fiction filmmaking for Asif Kapadia. A tale of impossible love set against the backdrop of the First World War and the subsequent independence movement in Azerbaijan, Kapadia's adaptation of Kurban Said's pseudonymous classic is a film of tremendous beauty but very little heart. The film's titular lovers are a sophisticated Azerbaijani boy named Ali (Adam Bakri) who "loves the simplicity of the desert" and Nino (María Valverde), a young Christian from Georgia. Their decision to marry is impaired by familial objections, cultural differences and the outbreak of the Great War.
- 7/22/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Period romance debuted at Sundance.
IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Asif Kapadia’s Ali & Nino following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The deal was secured through worldwide sales agent Im Global, which is selling international rights at the Cannes Marche next week, and CAA.
The love story is an adaptation of Kurban Said’s 1937 bestseller and stars Adam Bakri (Omar) and Maria Valverde (Exodus: Gods and Kings) as a Muslim Azerbaijani boy and Christian Georgian girl in Baku from 1918 to 1920. The cast includes Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) and Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, Wonder Woman).
Kapadia, who won the documentary Oscar earlier this year with Amy Winehouse biopic Amy, directed from a screenplay by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons).
Producer is Kris Thykier (Trash, Woman in Gold) and executive producer is Leyla Aliyeva.
IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Asif Kapadia’s Ali & Nino following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The deal was secured through worldwide sales agent Im Global, which is selling international rights at the Cannes Marche next week, and CAA.
The love story is an adaptation of Kurban Said’s 1937 bestseller and stars Adam Bakri (Omar) and Maria Valverde (Exodus: Gods and Kings) as a Muslim Azerbaijani boy and Christian Georgian girl in Baku from 1918 to 1920. The cast includes Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) and Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, Wonder Woman).
Kapadia, who won the documentary Oscar earlier this year with Amy Winehouse biopic Amy, directed from a screenplay by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons).
Producer is Kris Thykier (Trash, Woman in Gold) and executive producer is Leyla Aliyeva.
- 5/6/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
IFC Films has fallen hard for Oscar winner Asif Kapadia’s epic love story, Ali & Nino, with the company taking North American rights. This follows the film’s January premiere at Sundance. Im Global and CAA handled the sale. The adaptation of the best-selling novel by Kurban Said was scripted by Oscar winner Christopher Hampton. Maria Valverde, Adam Bakri, Mandy Patinkin and Connie Nielsen star in the Azerbaijan-set story about two star-crossed lovers in the melting pot of…...
- 5/6/2016
- Deadline
There is nary a film genre more tried and true than the war-time romance. From Casablanca to Doctor Zhivago to The English Patient, the structure allows for a micro conflict injected into a macro scenario. From a script by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liasons, Atonement), adapted from the novel under the pseudonym Kurban Said, and directed by Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy), Ali and Nino strives for the status of epic but falls considerably short.
Starring Adam Bakri as Ali Khan Shirvanshir, a young Muslim Azerbaijani man who falls in love with Nino Kipiani (María Valverde), a Georgian princess, the film is set in and around Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan on the brink of the Bolshevik Revolution. The couple hopes to marry quickly, but the rumblings of war postpone everything. Nino’s parents (Mandy Patinkin and a woefully-miscast Connie Nielsen) are convinced the conflict will be over in months. Ali won’t have it,...
Starring Adam Bakri as Ali Khan Shirvanshir, a young Muslim Azerbaijani man who falls in love with Nino Kipiani (María Valverde), a Georgian princess, the film is set in and around Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan on the brink of the Bolshevik Revolution. The couple hopes to marry quickly, but the rumblings of war postpone everything. Nino’s parents (Mandy Patinkin and a woefully-miscast Connie Nielsen) are convinced the conflict will be over in months. Ali won’t have it,...
- 1/30/2016
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Director also talks about an extended cut of award-winning Senna.
Asif Kapadia has responded to accusations that his documentary about Amy Winehouse is misleading in its representation of the late singer’s relationship with her father, Mitch Winehouse.
Prior to the world premiere of Amy at the Cannes Film Festival last month, Mitch Winehouse told The Guardian, “they (the filmmakers) are trying to portray me in the worst possible light”.
Defending his film, Kapadia told ScreenDaily: “Nobody would be in the film unless they gave me permission to have them and their voice in the film.
“I made the film as honestly as I could considering the research and the footage I’ve seen. It is an honest representation of what was going on. I interviewed over 100 people.
“I don’t know who else has come out and said the film isn’t honest.”
The director was speaking at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff), where [link=tt...
Asif Kapadia has responded to accusations that his documentary about Amy Winehouse is misleading in its representation of the late singer’s relationship with her father, Mitch Winehouse.
Prior to the world premiere of Amy at the Cannes Film Festival last month, Mitch Winehouse told The Guardian, “they (the filmmakers) are trying to portray me in the worst possible light”.
Defending his film, Kapadia told ScreenDaily: “Nobody would be in the film unless they gave me permission to have them and their voice in the film.
“I made the film as honestly as I could considering the research and the footage I’ve seen. It is an honest representation of what was going on. I interviewed over 100 people.
“I don’t know who else has come out and said the film isn’t honest.”
The director was speaking at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff), where [link=tt...
- 6/19/2015
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
When you have one of the most anticipated films of the year about to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, how do you prepare? For Asif Kapadia — director of Amy, the forthcoming documentary about the British jazz singer Amy Winehouse — the answer is to direct another film. His adaptation of Kurban Said’s 1937 novel Ali and Nino is the first fictional narrative the British director has helmed since 2007’s Far North; both it and Amy are his first features since 2010’s much-admired documentary Senna. For his fictional narratives, Kapadia has made a habit of shooting in remote, unique locations. […]...
- 5/13/2015
- by Kaleem Aftab
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
When you have one of the most anticipated films of the year about to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, how do you prepare? For Asif Kapadia — director of Amy, the forthcoming documentary about the British jazz singer Amy Winehouse — the answer is to direct another film. His adaptation of Kurban Said’s 1937 novel Ali and Nino is the first fictional narrative the British director has helmed since 2007’s Far North; both it and Amy are his first features since 2010’s much-admired documentary Senna. For his fictional narratives, Kapadia has made a habit of shooting in remote, unique locations. […]...
- 5/13/2015
- by Kaleem Aftab
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
The first still for Asif Kapadia’s Ali & Nino has been released. Currently shooting in Azerbaijan, the adaption of the best-selling novel is written by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement) and produced by Kris Thykier (Trash, Woman In Gold). Leyla Aliyeva is on board as exec producer. Im Global will handle international sales. Kurban Said's best-sellingAzerbaijan-set novel revolves around two star-crossed lovers in the melting pot of Baku at the turn of the…...
- 4/8/2015
- Deadline
Connie Nielsen (Gladiator) has joined the cast of Asif Kapadia’s epic love story Ali & Nino. Deadline previously broke the news that Maria Valverde (Exodus: Of Gods and Kings) and Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) would be starring opposite Adam Bakri (Omar) in the big screen adaptation of Kurban Said’s bestselling novel. Filming has commenced on the Christopher Hampton-scripted project. Kris Thykier (Woman in Gold) is producing with Leyla Aliyeva exec producing. Im Global is…...
- 2/23/2015
- Deadline
Shoot begins on adaptation of bestselling love story; Danish star Connie Neilsen also joins cast.
Homeland star Mandy Patinkin and Danish actress Connie Neilsen (Nymphomanic, ‘The Following’) have been confirmed for the cast of epic love story Ali & Nino.
The announcement came as director Asif Kapadia (The Warrior, Senna) today began principal photography on the film, an adaptation of Kurban Said’s best-selling novel.
Adam Bakri (Omar) and María Valverde (Exodus: Gods and Kings) star as the titular star crossed lovers. Patinkin and Nielson play Nino’s parents.
Other confirmed cast include Riccardo Scamarcio, Homayoun Ershadi, Fakhraddin Manafov, Assaad Bouab, Numan Acar and Halit Ergenc.
The screenplay is by Oscar-winner Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement), producer is Kris Thykier (Trash, Woman in Gold) and executive producer is Leyla Aliyeva.
Im Global will handle international sales.
Since its initial publication in 1937, Ali & Nino has been translated into 33 languages worldwide with nearly 100 reprints.
The story centres...
Homeland star Mandy Patinkin and Danish actress Connie Neilsen (Nymphomanic, ‘The Following’) have been confirmed for the cast of epic love story Ali & Nino.
The announcement came as director Asif Kapadia (The Warrior, Senna) today began principal photography on the film, an adaptation of Kurban Said’s best-selling novel.
Adam Bakri (Omar) and María Valverde (Exodus: Gods and Kings) star as the titular star crossed lovers. Patinkin and Nielson play Nino’s parents.
Other confirmed cast include Riccardo Scamarcio, Homayoun Ershadi, Fakhraddin Manafov, Assaad Bouab, Numan Acar and Halit Ergenc.
The screenplay is by Oscar-winner Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement), producer is Kris Thykier (Trash, Woman in Gold) and executive producer is Leyla Aliyeva.
Im Global will handle international sales.
Since its initial publication in 1937, Ali & Nino has been translated into 33 languages worldwide with nearly 100 reprints.
The story centres...
- 2/23/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive- Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) is in advanced negotiations to join the cast of BAFTA-winning director Asif Kapadia’s Ali & Nino opposite Adam Bakri (Omar) and Maria Valverde (Exodus: Gods And Kings).
Deadline previously broke the news that Valverde had joined the cast.
The $20 million film is based on the best-selling novel by Kurban Said and tells the story of Ali, a Muslim boy, and Nino, a Christian Georgian girl, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Their love story plays out against the backdrop of World War I and Azerbaijan’s fight for independence.
Principal photography begins in Baku, Azerbaijan and Istanbul, Turkey in February and March.
Kris Thykier (Trash) is producing. Thykier’s latest film, Woman In Gold, world premieres at Berlin.
Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) has written the script. Patinkin is repped by Paradigm.
Deadline previously broke the news that Valverde had joined the cast.
The $20 million film is based on the best-selling novel by Kurban Said and tells the story of Ali, a Muslim boy, and Nino, a Christian Georgian girl, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Their love story plays out against the backdrop of World War I and Azerbaijan’s fight for independence.
Principal photography begins in Baku, Azerbaijan and Istanbul, Turkey in February and March.
Kris Thykier (Trash) is producing. Thykier’s latest film, Woman In Gold, world premieres at Berlin.
Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) has written the script. Patinkin is repped by Paradigm.
- 2/5/2015
- by Ali Jaafar
- Deadline
• Reese Witherspoon will star opposite Matt Damon in Downsizing. Alexander Payne will direct from a script he wrote alongside Jim Taylor. Set in the near future, the film follows a man who realizes he'd be better of if he shrunk himself. Payne, Taylor, and Witherspoon all previously worked on Election. [Variety] • The Fault in Our Stars’ Ansel Elgort is joining Chloë Grace Moretz and Catherine Keener in November Criminals. Sacha Gervasi is directing. Steven Knight adapted Sam Munson’s teen-thriller novel for the screen. The story tracks two teenagers in Washington D.C. who investigate a friend’s murder, and fall in love in the process.
- 1/9/2015
- by C. Molly Smith
- EW - Inside Movies
Maria Valverde (Exodus: Gods And Kings) has signed on to star in the coveted role of Nino in epic love story Ali & Nino. She will join the previously announced Adam Bakri (Omar) in director Asif Kapadia’s (Senna) big-screen adaptation of Kurban Said’s best-selling Azerbaijan-set novel about two star-crossed lovers.
The story begins in the melting pot of Baku at the turn of the 20th century. Ali is a Muslim, with his warrior ancestors’ passion for the desert; and Nino is a Christian Georgian girl with sophisticated European ways. The childhood sweethearts find their lives interrupted when WW1 breaks out and Baku’s oil becomes the focus of Russia’s vie for power. As the war plays out and control of the Caucuses changes hands, Ali and Nino find themselves swept up in Azerbaijan’s fight for independence.
Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) has written the script, Kris Thykier (Trash...
The story begins in the melting pot of Baku at the turn of the 20th century. Ali is a Muslim, with his warrior ancestors’ passion for the desert; and Nino is a Christian Georgian girl with sophisticated European ways. The childhood sweethearts find their lives interrupted when WW1 breaks out and Baku’s oil becomes the focus of Russia’s vie for power. As the war plays out and control of the Caucuses changes hands, Ali and Nino find themselves swept up in Azerbaijan’s fight for independence.
Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) has written the script, Kris Thykier (Trash...
- 1/8/2015
- by Ali Jaafar
- Deadline
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