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After making several award-winning shorts in Turkey, Yesim Ustaoğlu made her feature film debut with 1994's 'The Trace' (İz). The film was presented at numerous international festivals, including Moscow and Gotenburg and won the Best Film Award at Istanbul Film Festival. Yesim Ustaoğlu received international recognition for her 1999 film, 'Journey To The Sun' (Güneşe Yolculuk) which competed in Berlinale and received the Blue Angel Award (Best European Film) and the Peace Prize before sweeping the Istanbul Film Festival by winning Best Film, Best Director, the FIPRESCI Prize and the Audience Award. Launching her own production company Ustaoğlu Film in 2003, her third film, 'Waiting for the Clouds' (Bulutları Beklerken) premiered in 2014 Berlinale Panorama and was awarded NHK Sundance - International Film-maker's Award. Ustaoğlu's fourth feature, 'Pandora's Box' (Pandora'nın Kutusu) premiered in Toronto (TIFF) and won Golden Shell for the Best Film and Silver Shell for the Best Actress Award in San Sebastian FF. Her fifth feature 'Somewhere in Between' (Araf, 2012) premiered in Orrizonti section in 69th Venice FF, won Best Film Award in Abu Dhabi FF and Split Mediterranean FF, as well as Best Performance in Moscow, Tokyo and Pune Film Festivals. Her latest film 'Clair Obscur' (Tereddüt).
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2026
Artakalan
Movie Director
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2026
On the Dry Rock
Movie Director
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2022
Dream Workers
Movie Herself
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2019
Her First
Movie Self
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2019
The Helix
Movie Executive Producer
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2017
Clair Obscur
Movie Director
- 2016
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2012
Araf/Somewhere in Between
Movie Director
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2008
Pandora's Box
Movie Director
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2004
Life on Their Shoulders
Movie Director
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2003
Waiting for the Clouds
Movie Director
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1999
Journey to the Sun
Movie Director
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1994
The Trace
Movie Director
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1992
Otel
Movie Director
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1990
Duet
Movie Director
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1987
Magnafantagna
Movie Director
More credits
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To Catch a Moment
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