Fatih Akin
Encyclopedia
Fatih Akın is a German
film director
, screenwriter
and producer of Turkish
descent.
to parents of Turkish ethnicity. He attended Hamburg's College of Fine Arts to study visual communications
and graduated in 2000.
Fatih Akın has been married since 2004 to German-Mexican actress Monique Obermüller and lives in Hamburg-Altona
. His brother, Cem Akın is an actor.
(Kurz und schmerzlos), which brought him the "Bronze Leopard" award at the Locarno International Film Festival
in Switzerland
and the "Pierrot", the Bavarian Film Award for Best New Director
in Munich
the same year. Since then he has directed feature films such as Im Juli
(In July) in 2000, We forgot to go back (Wir haben vergessen zurückzukehren) in 2001 and Solino
in 2002. His fourth work, Head-On
(Gegen die Wand), starring Sibel Kekilli, was a major success in 2004 and received several prizes, among them the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival and the "Best Film" and the "Audience Award" at the 2004 European Film Awards.
In 2005 he directed a documentary about the Istanbul
music scene, Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul
, which includes musicians such as Ceza
, Sezen Aksu
, Aynur Doğan
and Brenna MacCrimmon
. It is narrated by a member of a German experimental band Einstürzende Neubauten
, Alexander Hacke
, who also produced music for Head-On.
In 2007, Akın's The Edge of Heaven
, a German-Turkish cross-cultural tale of loss, mourning and forgiveness, won the prize for best screenplay
at the 60th Cannes Film Festival in 2007
. On October 24, 2007, the same film was awarded the first edition of the LUX prize for European cinema by the European Parliament
.
His most recent film is the comedy Soul Kitchen
(2009). He has said he chose this more light-hearted film because he needed a break after making the "tough" films Head-On
and The Edge of Heaven
before making his next planned film The Devil. "But", he says, "now I feel ready to finish the trilogy".
, two different cultures are presented, the conservative Muslim and Turkish view of Sibel's family, and Sibel's open ideas about sex. Cahit is presented to be somewhat a mixture of these two ideas and cultures, representing a struggling Turk. Akın, on the other hand, has never denied his Turkish roots and even accepted the Cannes
award in the name of Turkish cinema.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and producer of Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
descent.
Personal life
Akın was born in 1973 in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
to parents of Turkish ethnicity. He attended Hamburg's College of Fine Arts to study visual communications
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
and graduated in 2000.
Fatih Akın has been married since 2004 to German-Mexican actress Monique Obermüller and lives in Hamburg-Altona
Altona, Hamburg
Altona is the westernmost urban borough of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe river. From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937...
. His brother, Cem Akın is an actor.
Work
Akın made his debut as director of a full length film as early as 1998 with Short Sharp ShockShort Sharp Shock (film)
Short Sharp Shock is an award-winning 1998 film directed by Turkish-German director Fatih Akın.The film, which according to Rekin Teksoy, writing in Turkish Cinema, "focuses on the identity crises faced by German youth from various ethnic backgrounds," was the feature debut of the German-born...
(Kurz und schmerzlos), which brought him the "Bronze Leopard" award at the Locarno International Film Festival
Locarno International Film Festival
The Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and the "Pierrot", the Bavarian Film Award for Best New Director
Bavarian Film Awards (Best Director)
This is a list of the winners of the Bavarian Film Awards for Best Director.-References:* * This is a list of the winners of the Bavarian Film Awards for Best Director.-References:* * This is a list of the winners of the Bavarian Film Awards for Best Director.-References:* * (12 pages, 124 KB...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
the same year. Since then he has directed feature films such as Im Juli
Im Juli
-Plot:At the beginning of his summer holiday, a somewhat naïve trainee teacher Daniel buys a ring from a stall run by Juli . The ring bears a Mayan sun symbol, which, according to Juli, has the power to lead him to the woman of his dreams, whom he will recognise by a similar sun symbol...
(In July) in 2000, We forgot to go back (Wir haben vergessen zurückzukehren) in 2001 and Solino
Solino
Solino is a 2002 Italian-German movie directed by Fatih Akın and starring Moritz Bleibtreu, Barnaby Metschurat, Gigi Savoia and Antonella Attili.-Plot:The movie portrays the story of an Italian family emigrated in Germany in the 1970s...
in 2002. His fourth work, Head-On
Head-On
Head-On is a 2004 film written and directed by Fatih Akın.-Synopsis:Cahit Tomruk is a Turkish German in his 40s. He has given up on life after the death of his wife and seeks solace in cocaine and alcohol. One night, he intentionally drives his car head-on into a wall, and barely survives...
(Gegen die Wand), starring Sibel Kekilli, was a major success in 2004 and received several prizes, among them the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival and the "Best Film" and the "Audience Award" at the 2004 European Film Awards.
In 2005 he directed a documentary about the Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
music scene, Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul
Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul
Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul is a 2005 film/documentary directed by Fatih Akın. The film is a journey through the music scene in modern Istanbul, Turkey as well as portraying its cultural life. It was screened out of competition at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.It features German...
, which includes musicians such as Ceza
Ceza
Bilgin Özçalkan better known by his stage name Ceza is the most commercially famous and influential Turkish rapper. His albums have featured many artists including Sezen Aksu, Candan Erçetin, Tech N9ne, Dr. Fuchs, and his sister Ayben...
, Sezen Aksu
Sezen Aksu
Sezen Aksu is a Turkish pop music singer, song-writer and producer who sold over 40 million albums worldwide. Her nicknames include the "Queen of Turkish Pop" and Minik Serçe ....
, Aynur Doğan
Aynur Dogan
Aynur Doğan is a contemporary Kurdish singer and musician from Turkey. She was born in Çemişgezek, a small mountain town in Tunceli Province in southeastern Turkey. Her family fled to İstanbul in 1992 during the conflict between the Turkish military and the Kurdistan Workers Party...
and Brenna MacCrimmon
Brenna MacCrimmon
Brenna MacCrimmon is a Canadian folk singer from Toronto, Ontario, who has been performing, studying and teaching Balkan and Turkish music since the late 1980s. She speaks and sings perfect Turkish and is internationally acclaimed as a Turkish folk singer....
. It is narrated by a member of a German experimental band Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
, Alexander Hacke
Alexander Hacke
Alexander Hacke is a guitarist, bass guitarist, singer, experimental / industrial / electronic musician from Germany....
, who also produced music for Head-On.
In 2007, Akın's The Edge of Heaven
The Edge of Heaven (film)
The Edge of Heaven is a 2007 Turkish-German-Italian drama film written and directed by Fatih Akın. The film won the Prix du scénario at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival...
, a German-Turkish cross-cultural tale of loss, mourning and forgiveness, won the prize for best screenplay
Best Screenplay Award (Cannes Film Festival)
The Best Screenplay Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival...
at the 60th Cannes Film Festival in 2007
2007 Cannes Film Festival
The 2007 Cannes Film Festival, the sixtieth, ran from 16 to 27 May 2007. Wong Kar-wai's My Blueberry Nights opened the festival, and Denys Arcand's The Age of Ignorance closed...
. On October 24, 2007, the same film was awarded the first edition of the LUX prize for European cinema by the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
His most recent film is the comedy Soul Kitchen
Soul Kitchen (film)
Soul Kitchen is a 2009 German comedy film directed by Fatih Akın, with a screenplay by Akin and Adam Bousdoukos. Bousdoukos based the story on his own experiences as the owner of a Greek tavern named "Taverna", where Akin was a regular customer. Akin filmed the movie entirely in the Hamburg...
(2009). He has said he chose this more light-hearted film because he needed a break after making the "tough" films Head-On
Head-On
Head-On is a 2004 film written and directed by Fatih Akın.-Synopsis:Cahit Tomruk is a Turkish German in his 40s. He has given up on life after the death of his wife and seeks solace in cocaine and alcohol. One night, he intentionally drives his car head-on into a wall, and barely survives...
and The Edge of Heaven
The Edge of Heaven (film)
The Edge of Heaven is a 2007 Turkish-German-Italian drama film written and directed by Fatih Akın. The film won the Prix du scénario at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival...
before making his next planned film The Devil. "But", he says, "now I feel ready to finish the trilogy".
Themes
In Akın's cinema, the lives of German Turks are a recurring theme, such as their struggles and their confusion about two different cultures. In Head-OnHead-On
Head-On is a 2004 film written and directed by Fatih Akın.-Synopsis:Cahit Tomruk is a Turkish German in his 40s. He has given up on life after the death of his wife and seeks solace in cocaine and alcohol. One night, he intentionally drives his car head-on into a wall, and barely survives...
, two different cultures are presented, the conservative Muslim and Turkish view of Sibel's family, and Sibel's open ideas about sex. Cahit is presented to be somewhat a mixture of these two ideas and cultures, representing a struggling Turk. Akın, on the other hand, has never denied his Turkish roots and even accepted the Cannes
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
award in the name of Turkish cinema.
Political stance
Akın has been criticized for actions that have been interpreted by some as trivializing the Holocaust and was investigated by German police for wearing a t-shirt with a Nazi swastika in place of the letter "S" in the word "BUSH". Akın defended the t-Shirt as "more than mere provocation" and emphasized:Awards
- 1998 Bavarian Film AwardsBayerischer FilmpreisThe Bavarian Film Awards have been awarded annually since 1979 by the State Government of Bavaria in Germany for “exceptional achievement in German filmmaking.” Along with the German Film Awards, these are the most highly regarded awards for filmmaking achievement in Germany.The Bavarian Film...
, Best New Director - 2004 Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival
- 2004 European Film Awards, Best Film, Audience Award
- 2007 Antalya Golden Orange Film FestivalAntalya Golden Orange Film FestivalThe Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival is a film festival, held annually since 1963 in Antalya, is the most important national film festival in Turkey...
Golden Orange AwardAntalya Golden Orange Film FestivalThe Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival is a film festival, held annually since 1963 in Antalya, is the most important national film festival in Turkey...
, Best Director - 2007 Bavarian Film AwardsBayerischer FilmpreisThe Bavarian Film Awards have been awarded annually since 1979 by the State Government of Bavaria in Germany for “exceptional achievement in German filmmaking.” Along with the German Film Awards, these are the most highly regarded awards for filmmaking achievement in Germany.The Bavarian Film...
, Best Director - 2007 LUX Prize for European Cinema awarded by European ParliamentEuropean ParliamentThe European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
- 2007 Cannes Film Festival2007 Cannes Film FestivalThe 2007 Cannes Film Festival, the sixtieth, ran from 16 to 27 May 2007. Wong Kar-wai's My Blueberry Nights opened the festival, and Denys Arcand's The Age of Ignorance closed...
, Best ScreenplayBest Screenplay Award (Cannes Film Festival)The Best Screenplay Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival... - 2010 Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) for his contribution in depicting the problems of Turkish-Germans.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Sensin... You're the One! | (German title: Sensin - Du bist es!) | |
| 1996 | Weed | (German title: Getürkt) | |
| 1998 | Short Sharp Shock Short Sharp Shock (film) Short Sharp Shock is an award-winning 1998 film directed by Turkish-German director Fatih Akın.The film, which according to Rekin Teksoy, writing in Turkish Cinema, "focuses on the identity crises faced by German youth from various ethnic backgrounds," was the feature debut of the German-born... |
(German title: Kurz und schmerzlos) | Bronze Leopard at Locarno Locarno Locarno is the capital of the Locarno district, located on the northern tip of Lake Maggiore in the Swiss canton of Ticino, close to Ascona at the foot of the Alps. It has a population of about 15,000... , Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... Pierrot at Bavarian Film Award for the best young director |
| 2000 | Im Juli Im Juli -Plot:At the beginning of his summer holiday, a somewhat naïve trainee teacher Daniel buys a ring from a stall run by Juli . The ring bears a Mayan sun symbol, which, according to Juli, has the power to lead him to the woman of his dreams, whom he will recognise by a similar sun symbol... |
Original Script | |
| 2001 | Denk ich an Deutschland - Wir haben vergessen zurückzukehren | Original Script | |
| 2002 | Solino Solino Solino is a 2002 Italian-German movie directed by Fatih Akın and starring Moritz Bleibtreu, Barnaby Metschurat, Gigi Savoia and Antonella Attili.-Plot:The movie portrays the story of an Italian family emigrated in Germany in the 1970s... |
Original Script | |
| 2004 | Head-On Head-On Head-On is a 2004 film written and directed by Fatih Akın.-Synopsis:Cahit Tomruk is a Turkish German in his 40s. He has given up on life after the death of his wife and seeks solace in cocaine and alcohol. One night, he intentionally drives his car head-on into a wall, and barely survives... |
(German title: Gegen die Wand, Turkish title: Duvara karşı) | Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival "Best Film" and "Audience Award" at European Film Awards |
| 2004 | Visions of Europe | (segment "Die bösen alten Lieder", German title: Europäische Visionen) | |
| 2004 | Kebab Connection Kebab Connection Kebab Connection is a 2005 German-Turkish comedy film, with some slapstick, set in Hamburg.-Plot:Ibo is a young Turkish-German man who is an aspiring filmmaker. A clash of cultures and pre-parental anxiety ensues after Ibo's German girlfriend, Titzi , announces that she's pregnant... |
Original Script | |
| 2005 | Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul is a 2005 film/documentary directed by Fatih Akın. The film is a journey through the music scene in modern Istanbul, Turkey as well as portraying its cultural life. It was screened out of competition at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.It features German... |
Original Script | |
| 2007 | The Edge of Heaven The Edge of Heaven (film) The Edge of Heaven is a 2007 Turkish-German-Italian drama film written and directed by Fatih Akın. The film won the Prix du scénario at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival... |
(German title: Auf der anderen Seite, Turkish title: Yaşamın Kıyısında) | Best Director at Golden Orange Film Festival Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival The Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival is a film festival, held annually since 1963 in Antalya, is the most important national film festival in Turkey... Best Screenplay Best Screenplay Award (Cannes Film Festival) The Best Screenplay Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival... at Cannes Film Festival 2007 Cannes Film Festival The 2007 Cannes Film Festival, the sixtieth, ran from 16 to 27 May 2007. Wong Kar-wai's My Blueberry Nights opened the festival, and Denys Arcand's The Age of Ignorance closed... LUX prize for European cinema by European Parliament European Parliament The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world... |
| 2008 | New York, I Love You New York, I Love You New York, I Love You is a 2009 romance film released in the United States on October 16, 2009. From the producer of Paris, je t'aime, it stars an ensemble cast, among them Bradley Cooper, Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman, Anton Yelchin, Hayden Christensen, Orlando Bloom, Irrfan Khan, Rachel Bilson,... |
||
| 2009 | Soul Kitchen Soul Kitchen (film) Soul Kitchen is a 2009 German comedy film directed by Fatih Akın, with a screenplay by Akin and Adam Bousdoukos. Bousdoukos based the story on his own experiences as the owner of a Greek tavern named "Taverna", where Akin was a regular customer. Akin filmed the movie entirely in the Hamburg... |
Original Script | Special Award of the Jury at Venice International Film Festival |
External links
- Fatih Akın Bibliography (via UC Berkeley)
- Rocking Istanbul A talk with Daniel Bax on the film "Crossing the Bridge", tour guides and Vikings, music divas and the responsibilities of critical acclaim at signandsight.com