Pelin Esmer (1972 -   )

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Pelin Esmer was born in Istanbul in 1972. He completed his undergraduate education at Boğaziçi University, Department of Sociology.  Esmer, who worked as an assistant director in films, shot her first documentary film called "Collector" in 2002. In 2005, he won the "Yılmaz Güney Memorial Award" at the 13th Adana Film Festival and the "Best Mediterranean Documentary" award at the Mediterranean Documentary Film Awards with "The Game", which he also shot in the documentary genre. In 2009, he made his first feature film, "10 to 11". was released. “10 to 11” received the “Best Film” and “Best Screenplay” awards at the Adana Golden Boll Film Festival. Esmer, who received many awards from abroad, shot the movie "Watch Tower" in 2012. While he produced the films he directed, he also wrote the scripts himself. Esmer gave lectures on documentary at Kadir Has University. 

 

Screenwriter Filmography

Play, 2005, Director: Pelin Esmer, Screenplay: Pelin Esmer, Director of Photography: Pelin Esmer, Music: Mazlum Çimen, Cast: Behiye Yanık, Cennet Güneş, Fatma Fatih, Fatma Kahraman, Hüseyin Arslanköylü, Naşide Kahraman, Nesibe Kahraman Producer: Pelin Brunette, Nida Karabol Akdeniz.

10 to 11, 2009, Director: Pelin Esmer, Screenplay: Pelin Esmer, Director of Photography: Özgür Eken, Actors: Nejat İşler, Mithat Esmer, Tayanç Ayaydın, Laçin Ceylan, Savaş Akova, Sinan Düğmeci, Tülin Özen, Selen Üçer, Producer: Pelin Esmer.

Watchtower, 2012, Director: Pelin Esmer, Screenplay: Pelin Esmer, Director of Photography: Özgür Eken, Actors: Olgun Şimşek, Nilay Erdönmez, Menderes Samancılar, Laçin Ceylan, Rıza Akın Producer: Pelin Esmer.

 

Producer Filmography 

Play, 2005, Director: Pelin Esmer, Screenplay: Pelin Esmer, Director of Photography: Pelin Esmer, Music: Mazlum Çimen, Cast: Behiye Yanık, Cennet Güneş, Fatma Fatih, Fatma Kahraman, Hüseyin Arslanköylü, Naşide Kahraman, Nesibe Kahraman Producer: Pelin Brunette, Nida Karabol Akdeniz, 

10 to 11, 2009, Director: Pelin Esmer, Screenplay: Pelin Esmer, Director of Photography: Özgür Eken, Actors: Nejat İşler, Mithat Esmer, Tayanç Ayaydın, Laçin Ceylan, Savaş Akova, Sinan Düğmeci, Tülin Özen, Selen Üçer, Producer: Pelin Esmer.

Watchtower, 2012, Director: Pelin Esmer, Screenplay: Pelin Esmer, Director of Photography: Özgür Eken, Actors: Olgun Şimşek, Nilay Erdönmez, Menderes Samancılar, Laçin Ceylan, Rıza Akın Producer: Pelin Esmer.

 

Awards: 

The Game (2005) 

13th Adana Film Festival (2006) “Yılmaz Güney Memorial Award” (Pelin Esmer) 

Mediterranean Documentary Film Awards (2006) “Best Mediterranean Documentary” (Pelin Esmer)

Creteil International Women's Film Festival (2006) “Best Documentary” (Pelin Esmer)

Tribeca Film Festival (2006) “Jury Award (Best New Documentary Director)”

10 Minutes to 11 (2009)

28th International Film Festival (2009) “Special Jury Award” (Pelin Esmer)

16th Adana Film Festival (2009) "Best Film Award" "Best Screenplay" (Pelin Esmer)

Middle East International Film Festival (Abu Dhabi-2009) "Best Director" (Pelin Esmer) 

Tromso (Norway) Film Festival (2010) “Pibresci Award”

Teouan (Morocco) International Film Festival (2010) “Special Jury Prize"

Cinema Nova (Belgium) Film Festival (2010) “Main Jury and Young Jury Special Awards". Tofifest (Poland) Film Festival (2010) “Best Film” 

15th Nuremberg Turkey-Germany Film Festival (2010) “Best Film” 

21st Ankara Film Festival (2010) Pelin Esmer “Best Director” (Pelin Esmer) “Best Screenplay” (Pelin Esmer) “Best Art Director” (Naz Erayda)

Eurasia International Film Festival (2010) “Best Director” (Pelin Esmer)

Watchtower (2012) 

19. Altın Koza Film Festival (2012) “Best Cinematography” (Özgür Eken) “Best Actress” (Nilay Erdönmez) “Best Supporting Actor” (Menderes Samancılar) “Best Supporting Actress” (Laçin Ceylan ) “Best Director” (Pelin Esmer)

Something Useful (2017)

International Istanbul Film Festival (2017) “FIPRESCI Award” (Pelin Esmer)

Malatya International Film Festival (2017) “Best Actress” (Başak Köklükaya)

“Best Supporting Actress” (Öykü Karayel)

International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival (2017) “Best Screenplay” (Pelin Esmer) “Best Screenplay” (Barış Bıçakçı) “Best Actress” (Başak Köklükaya) “Best Cinematography” (Gökhan Tiryaki)

Queen Lear (2019)

International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival (2019) “Yılmaz Güney Award” (Pelin Esmer) “Best Music” (Barış Diri)

SİYAD (2019) “Best Film Award” (Pelin Esmer)

 

Source

Evren, M. Burçak. (2014). 100 Years of Turkish Cinema. T.R. Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Özgüç, Agâh. (2012). Encyclopedic Dictionary of Turkish Movies. Istanbul: Horizon International.

https://pelinesmer.com, (Access Date: 20.12.2023).