Zeki Ökten

Zeki Ökten
Born (1941-08-04)4 August 1941
Istanbul, Turkey
Died 19 December 2009(2009-12-19) (aged 68)
Istanbul, Turkey
Occupation Film director
Years active 1963 2006

Zeki Ökten (4 August 1941 19 December 2009) was a Turkish film director.

Biography

He was born on 4 August 1941 in Istanbul. Zeki Ökten was interested in theatre during his education at the Haydarpaşa High School. He entered his filmmaking career in 1961 as the assistant director of Nişan Hançer directing Acı Zeytin. Zeki Ökten directed his first film Ölüm Pazarı two years later in 1963.[1] However, he stepped back to the post of assistant director as the success expected did not come. He worked then nine years long as the assistant to the renowned directors like Ömer Lütfi Akad, Halit Refiğ, Memduh Ün and Atıf Yılmaz.[2]

With his films Kadın Yapar in 1972 and with Bir Demet Menekşe in 1973, written by Selim İleri, he gained recognition. He was honored at the Golden Orange Film Festival in 1977 for directing the film Kapıcılar Kralı.

Real success came with the films Sürü (1978) and Düşman (1979), both written by Yılmaz Güney. Düşman won an Honourable Mention at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival in 1980.[3] The film Sürü received nine more international awards, following the honors at the festivals in Locarno 1979 and at Antwerp in 1980. Zeki Ökten received his second Golden Orange award in 1983 for directing the film Faize Hücum. His 1984 film Pehlivan won an Honourable Mention at the 35th Berlin International Film Festival.[4] The themes of his films were social problems featured in comedy.[1][2]

Zeki Ökten died on December 19, 2009, following a heart surgery for which he was hospitalized the day before in the American Hospital in Istanbul.[1] He was laid to rest at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery two days later following a religious funeral ceremony held at the Teşvikiye Mosque.[5] Zeki Ökten is succeeded by his wife Güler Ökten, a well-known Turkish actress.[2]

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Zeki Ökten yarın defnedilecek". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  2. 1 2 3 Aktuğ, Erkan (2009-12-19). "Beyazperdede büyük kayıp: Zeki Ökten'i yitirdik". Radikal (in Turkish). Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  3. "Berlinale 1980: Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  4. "Berlinale: 1985 Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  5. "Zeki Ökten son yolculuğuna çıktı". Star (in Turkish). 200-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-21. Check date values in: |date= (help)

Zeki Ökten at the Internet Movie Database

Awards
Preceded by
Atıf Yılmaz
Golden Orange Award
for Best Director

1977
for Kapıcılar Kralı
Succeeded by
Atıf Yılmaz
Preceded by
Ömer Kavur
Golden Orange Award
for Best Director

1983
for Faize Hücum
Succeeded by
Atıf Yılmaz
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