The Biography

Nuri Bilge Ceylan (born 26 January 1959; Istanbul) is a Turkish director, screenwriter, photographer and actor. His film Winter Sleep (2014) won the Palme d'Or at the 67th Cannes Film Festival, while five of his films have been selected as Turkey's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. He is married to filmmaker, photographer, and actress Ebru Ceylan, with whom he co-starred in Climates (2006). Ceylan's films deal with the estrangement of the individual, existentialism, the monotony of human lives, and the details of everyday life. He uses static shots and long takes, usually in natural settings, as well as play with sound, including the use of menacing silences. He is known for filming his protagonist from behind, which, in his view, leaves the audiences to speculate on the brooding emotions of characters whose faces are obscured. Until Climates, Ceylan's films are made on low budgets, with casts generally consisting of amateur actors, most of whom are family members.