Nuri Bilge Ceylan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nuri Bilge Ceylan
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Nuri Bilge Ceylan in 2009.
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| Born | 26 January 1959 Istanbul, Turkey
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| Nationality | Turkish |
| Alma mater | Boğaziçi University Mimar Sinan University |
| Occupation | Film director, photographer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse(s) | Aylin Ünaldı Ceylan Ebru Ceylan |
| Relatives | Mehmet Emin Toprak (cousin) |
| Awards | Full list |
Nuri Bilge Ceylan (born January 26, 1959) is a famous Turkish director, writer, photographer, and actor. He is well-known for making movies that explore deep ideas and show beautiful natural settings. His film Winter Sleep (2014) won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the Cannes Film Festival. Many of his films have also been chosen to represent Turkey at the Oscars.
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His Early Life and School Days
Nuri Bilge Ceylan was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on January 26, 1959. He spent most of his childhood in Yenice, his father's hometown. After finishing primary school there, he went to high school in Istanbul.
In 1976, Ceylan started studying chemistry at Istanbul Technical University. Later, in 1978, he switched to Boğaziçi University to study electrical engineering. During his time at Boğaziçi University, he began to gain attention for his photography. In 1982, he was featured in a magazine article about young Turkish photographers.
Throughout the 1980s, Ceylan's photos appeared in various magazines. In 1989, he won a national contest to represent Turkey at an international event. He took photos in places like London and Kathmandu. After returning to Turkey and finishing his military service, Ceylan decided to study film at Mimar Sinan University.
Starting His Film Career
First Short Films and Features
Nuri Bilge Ceylan started his film journey in 1993. He acted in a short film called Seviyorum Ergo Sum and also helped with its production. After this, he bought the camera used for that film. He then used it to make his own short film, Koza (which means "cocoon").
Koza was a special film because it was the first Turkish short film ever shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 1995. Ceylan did almost everything for this film himself, including directing, writing, and producing.
In 1997, Ceylan released his first full-length movie, Kasaba (meaning "The Small Town"). This film was shown at many international film festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival. Kasaba is considered the first part of his "provincial trilogy" of films. These films often featured his own family members as actors and showed life in small towns.
His next film, Mayıs Sıkıntısı (1999), was also shown at the Berlin Film Festival. Then came Uzak (2003), which means "Distant." This film competed for the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Uzak won the Grand Prix, a very important award. The main actors, Muzaffer Özdemir and Mehmet Emin Toprak, also won the Best Actor prize together. Sadly, Mehmet Emin Toprak passed away shortly after the film was made.
In 2006, Ceylan made Climates. This was the first time he didn't work as the main camera person (cinematographer). He also acted in this film alongside his wife, Ebru Ceylan. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
Working with Professional Actors
Ceylan's 2008 film, Three Monkeys, was a new step for him. It was the first time he worked with professional actors. He won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival for this movie. The film was also considered for an Oscar.
In 2009, Ceylan was a judge at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2011, his film Once Upon a Time in Anatolia won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. A famous film critic, Roger Ebert, praised Ceylan, saying he lets viewers experience things with the characters as events unfold.
His next film, Winter Sleep (2014), won the Palme d'Or at the 67th Cannes Film Festival. This was a huge achievement, as it was the first Turkish film to win this award since 1982. Critics described it as a powerful and moving story set in Turkey's vast Anatolian region.
In 2018, his film The Wild Pear Tree competed at the Cannes Film Festival. This movie tells the story of a writer who returns home and tries to publish his book while dealing with his father's gambling problems. Critics praised it as a rich and detailed film about what sons learn from their fathers.
Ceylan's film About Dry Grasses competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Merve Dizdar won the Best Actress award for her role in this film. The movie is about a young teacher hoping to move to Istanbul after working in a small village.
What Makes His Films Special?
Nuri Bilge Ceylan's films often explore themes like feeling alone, asking big questions about life, and showing everyday routines. He often uses still shots and long takes, usually in natural outdoor places. He doesn't often use special sets.
Ceylan also uses silence in his films to create a certain feeling. He is known for filming his main characters from behind. He says this is to make the audience wonder about what the characters are thinking and feeling. His earlier films were made with small budgets and often featured amateur actors, including his own family and neighbors.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Family Life
Nuri Bilge Ceylan is married to Ebru Ceylan, who is also a filmmaker, photographer, and actress. They acted together in his film Climates. Ceylan's cousin, Mehmet Emin Toprak, appeared in three of his films, most notably Uzak. Sadly, Mehmet Emin Toprak passed away in a car accident in 2002.
In a 2012 poll of the world's greatest films, Ceylan shared his ten favorite movies. These included Andrei Rublev, Au hasard Balthazar, and Tokyo Story.
Films by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
| Year | Title | Original title | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
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| 1995 | Cocoon | Koza | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 1997 | The Small Town | Kasaba | Yes | Yes | Yes | Feature debut |
| 1999 | Clouds of May | Mayıs Sıkıntısı | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2002 | Distant | Uzak | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2006 | Climates | İklimler | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also actor |
| 2008 | Three Monkeys | Üç Maymun | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2011 | Once Upon a Time in Anatolia | Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2014 | Winter Sleep | Kış Uykusu | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2018 | The Wild Pear Tree | Ahlat Ağacı | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2023 | About Dry Grasses | Kuru Otlar Üstüne | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Awards and Honors
Nuri Bilge Ceylan has won many important awards for his films:
- FIPRESCI Award (1997 – Kasaba, 2000 – Clouds of May, 2006 – Iklimler, 2014 – Winter Sleep)
- Golden Orange Award for Best Director (1999 – Clouds of May, 2002 – Uzak, 2006 – Iklimler)
- Golden Orange Award for Best Screenplay (2002 – Uzak)
- Grand Jury Prize / Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival (2002 – Uzak, 2011 – Once Upon a Time in Anatolia)
- Cannes Film Festival Best Director Award (2008 - Three Monkeys)
- Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Director (2008 – Üç Maymun, 2011 – Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, 2014 – Winter Sleep)
- Palme d'Or (2014 - "Winter Sleep")
He also received an honorary PhD from Boğaziçi University, where he used to study.
See also
In Spanish: Nuri Bilge Ceylan para niños
