Özcan Alper

Özcan Alper (born in Hopa, Artvin, Turkey in 1975), is a Turkish film director and screenwriter.

He studied at Trabzon Lisesi. In 1992, he moved to Istanbul to study at İstanbul Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi in the Physics Department and then moved to İstanbul Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi where he studied History of Sciences and graduated in 2003.

Since 1996, he was interested in films and took part in workshops organized by Mezopotamya Kültür Merkezi, the Nâzım Kültürevi culture house (now renamed Nâzım Hikmet Kültür Merkezi). Starting 2000 started assisting in films under the supervision of film director Yeşim Ustaoğlu.

After being assistant director in the short Toprak, he filmed Momi as his first short film as main director. He also shot the documentary Tokai City'de Melankoli ve Rapsodi in Japan following it with yet another documentary entitled Bir Bilimadamıyla Zaman Enleminde Yolculuk.

In 2008, Alper released his first long feature Sonbahar (Autumn in Turkish) with multiple awards as a newcomer. He followed that with another critically acclaimed film Gelecek Uzun Sürer, English title Future Lasts Forever that has also won important awards.

Filmography

Director

2006: Saklı Yüzler (as assistant director)
2007: Sonbahar (director), English title Autumn
2011: Gelecek Uzun Sürer, English title Future Lasts Forever

Screenwriter

2007: Sonbahar (director), English title Autumn
2010: Kars Öyküleri
2011: Gelecek Uzun Sürer, English title Future Lasts Forever

Shorts

1999: Toprak as assistant director (short film)
2001: Momi, director (short film)

Documentaries

Tokai City'de Melankoli ve Rapsodi
Bir Bilimadamıyla Zaman Enleminde Yolculuk

Actor

2011: Fotoğraf

Awards

For Sonbahar (Autumn)

2008: Won "Best Film" and "Jury Award" at the 15th Adana Altın Koza Film Festivali, Turkey
2008: Won NETPAC Award at the Avrasya International Film Festivali
2008: Won "C.I.C.A.E. Award" at Locarno International Film Festival
2008: Won "Silver Prometheus" at the Tbilisi International Film Festival
2009: Won "Best film" at the Ankara International Film Festival
2009: Won "Best director" at the Ankara International Film Festival
2009: Won "Best director" at the Sofia International Film Festival
2009: Won "FIPRESCI Prize" at the Yerevan International Film Festival
2009: Won "Jury Special Prize" for Best Film at the Yerevan International Film Festival
2009: Won "Best First Film" at the 2nd Yeşilçam Awards
2009: Nominated for "European Discovery of the Year" at the European Film Awards

For Gelecek Uzun Sürer (Future Lasts Forever)

At the Adana Altın Koza Film Festival
- Best Director
- Best Actor
- Yılmaz Güney Award
At the Malatya International Film Festival
- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Musik
At Kerala International Film Festival
- "FIPRESCI Best Film Award"