Ali Özgentürk

Ali Özgentürk, born in Adana, emerged as a leading figure in Turkish cinema in the 1980s. A graduate of the Faculty of Literature in Sociology, he became involved in theater during his student years, bringing performances to the streets with his group “Sokak Tiyatrosu.” He first gained attention with his 1970s short films Ferhat and Yasak, then worked as an assistant to Yılmaz Güney and Zeki Ökten before making his directorial debut with Hazal in 1980. His first feature, Hazal (1979), won the Best New Director award at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Özgentürk’s cinema masterfully blends realism with symbolism. Collaborating with writers such as Onat Kutlar and Işıl Özgentürk, he created significant works like At (1982) and Bekçi. While At captures the spontaneous flow of life in Istanbul, Bekçi presents a unique adaptation of Orhan Kemal’s novel Murtaza. At was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and won major awards in Tokyo and Valencia, while Bekçi became the first Turkish film to compete at the Venice Film Festival in 1985. His later films, including 28 Su da Yanar, Çıplak, and Mektup, sparked discussions, and in the 2000s, he collaborated again with Işıl Özgentürk on Balalayka, blending melancholy and humor to reconnect with audiences. Subsequent films, Kalbin Zamanı, Yengeç Oyunu, and Görünmeyen, inspired by the renowned Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, further enriched his filmography. These works left a lasting mark not only for their artistic achievements but also for the way they addressed moral and social issues. In 2025, at the age of 80, Ali Özgentürk passed away.

Filmography

• Beni Sev / Love Me - Liebe Mich (2011)
• Görünmeyen / Unseen (2010)
• Yengeç Oyunu / The Crab Game (2009)
• Kalbin Zamanı / The Time of the Heart (2004)
• Balalayka (2000)
• Mektup (1997)
• Çıplak / Nue (1992)
• Su da Yanar / Water Also Burns (1987)
• Bekçi (1986)
• At / Horse (1982)
• Hazal (1979)