Gulsun Karamustafa (born 2 December 1946, Ankara, Turkey) is a Turkish contemporary artist and film director.

Gülsün Karamustafa studied at State Academy of Fine Arts, Istanbul , Painting Department between 1964-69. Between the years 1975-81, she worked at Faculty of Fine Arts as a lecturer. In 1987, Karamustafa gave lectures as guest professor at Munchen Fine Arts Academy. Between 1997-99, she worked in Bogaziçi University, Faculty of Letter and Science, and in the year 2000 in Hannover International Women’s University as a lecturer. With the artists’ fellowship she received, she went to Berlin Kunstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf in 1999. The artist still proceeds her activities in her own atelier. (more…)

Born in Antalya, Turkey in 1948. Went to Istanbul Sisli Terakki High School and Hindsdale High School in Chicago, Illinois. Took part in the organization of first short film festival in Turkey in 1968. Graduated from Robert College with a degree in Economy in 1970. Followed doctoral study on regional development at Brunel university in London in 1971, turned back to Istanbul after the political coup.

Completed studies on political economy in Istanbul Universtity in 1980. Her first 22 minute documentary was about the imprisonment years of Turkish painter Orhan Taylan which was awarded by the Ankara film festival.

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Emre Şahin is an experienced director, cinematographer, and editor who captured the coveted Panavision scholarship in 1999, where he trained with some of the world’s leading directors of photography.

While a student at Emerson College in Boston, Şahin’s short film “Fetish” was awarded two acclaimed Evvy Awards (Best Film, Best Editing).

Şahin has since directed and edited documentary and television shows for networks such as ABC, ABC Family, MTV, VH1, The History Channel, The Travel Channel, The Food Network, TLC, and The Discovery Channel. He is currently the director and creator of the new series “Cities of the Underworld” for the History Channel. Other recent TV directing credits include the 10 episode series “Beyond the Bull”.

His unique ability to connect with the characters in his productions has allowed for a truly genuine and intimate look into their lives. Şahin’s close attention to visual details have made for incredibly interesting, as well as entertaining television and film, whether it’s capturing the pace of a city in his shooting style or evoking the inner joys or tragedies of an individual.

His short, Çanta, is currently on the festival circuit and has been accepted into over 20 film festivals around the world, including the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Çanta has received numerous awards, including Best Cinematography at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival, the Audience Choice Award at the West Chester Film Festival, Best Short at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and was named the Best Film of 2005 in Turkuaz magazine. Şahin currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Sarah Wetherbee.

www.cantafilm.com

Turkish artist Fikret Atay creates videos that offer short vignettes of life in Batman, a Kurdish city near the Iraqi-Turkish border. Using a hand-held camera and natural lighting, Atay films local residents as they perform traditional dances, beat makeshift drums, and mimic guerrilla maneuvers.

His simple style lends a frank authenticity to the images, yet the meanings of the performers’ actions remain mysterious to viewers who are unfamiliar with the local culture. Despite the difficulties of filming in the highly charged political atmosphere of Batman, Atay’s insistence on the importance of location gives the work a presence and power unattainable in any other setting.

Little lessons in joy

The transformative power of art is the real subject of Fikret Atay’s trio of brief videos at the Hammer Museum.

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Turkish-born movie director wins award in France
Friday, December 9, 2005

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Turkish-born movie director Hakan Sahin has received the Best Foreign Film Award in France for his second feature-film, “Kar” (Snow), at the 20th Entre Vues — Belfort International Film Festival — held between Nov. 26 and Dec. 4.

Three years ago Sahin won the same award for his film ?Ayna? (Mirror), his first feature-length film.

Sahin says he was inspired by a poem called ?Yalnizlik? (Loneliness) by famous Turkish poet Orhan Veli Kanik in both his movies.

Sahin’s ?Kar? portrays the story of people living in the remote village in northern Canada. On Dec. 21, the shortest day and longest night of the year, the harsh and forbidding yet beautiful and sustaining profile of the northern landscape is blurred by drifting snow.

The village is too small to have a post office or a bank but just big enough to have a small café and an even smaller store.

It takes a certain breed to live and work in such an environment. The cold, the darkness and the isolation affects people in different ways. Life seems to lose some of its essential elements in these conditions, where sometimes the distinction between reality and the surreal merges…

The director:

Born in Ünye, Turkey, in 1965, Sahin immigrated to Canada with his family when he was 15 years old.

At the age of 25 he graduated from the University of Alberta in Edmonton with a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering. He joined his brother in a small family trucking business operating out of the remote oil-field hamlet of Zama in northern Alberta. He worked there for the next five years as a truck driver.

In 1995 Sahin trained himself in filmmaking by shooting his first short film in 16mm. When that film won an award at the CSIF Calgary Film Festival, he went on to shoot ?Mirror? at the age of 35.

Melek ULAGAY TAYLAN

Born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1946. Went to primary school at Özel Isik Lisesi, and graduated from The American College for Girls (Robert College) in 1965. Entered the Department of English Literature of Istanbul University in 1967. In 1971, left Turkey to live in Geneva, Amsterdam and Bologna. Returned to Turkey in 1974 and graduated from the Department of English Literature of Istanbul University. Entered The Middle East Technical University (Ankara) Department of Humanities as English Language Instructor in 1976. Entered the PHD Programme of Political Science in the Faculty of Political Science (Ankara). Got married with painter Orhan Taylan. Obtained MA in International Relations from the Faculty of Political Science (Ankara). In 1982, left Ankara for family reasons and returned to Istanbul. Worked as press and PR consultant of The Agha Han Foundation. Husband Orhan Taylan was put into prison for being a member of the Turkish Peace Association in 1982 to be released in 1996. Worked as a simultaneous translator with The Association of Simultaneous Translators in 1985.

Founded Ajans 21 Independent Documentary Film Company with associate Nurdan Arca, in 1992. Began working at The Helsinki Citizens Assembly Turkish Section, in 1994. Elected to the Board of Directors of HCA Turkey.
Worked in Yorum&Publicis Advertising Company in relation to Habitat II Conference. Continues to make documentary films in Ajans 21. Produced two documentary films.

Filmography