Ali Özgentürk

Ali Özgentürk (4 November 1945 – 15 May 2025) was a Turkish film director, screenwriter and producer.

Life and career Özgentürk was born in Adana, Turkey on 4 November 1945. After studying philosophy and sociology at Istanbul University,

In 1977, Özgentürk wrote the screenplay for director Atıf Yılmaz's film Selvi Boylum, Al Yazmalım (The Girl with the Red Scarf), which would go on to become a major hit in Turkey. In 1979, Özgentürk directed his first feature, Hazal,

In 2000, Özgentürk directed Balalayka, which would go on to become a major box office hit in Turkey. The film ran into trouble early in its production when its original lead actor, Kemal Sunal, died of a heart attack while boarding a plane to the film's location in Trabzon. He was replaced in the part by the Turkish actor Uğur Yücel.

Özgentürk wrote and directed Yengeç Oyunu (The Crab Game), a 2009 film shot on location in Egypt, Alexandria. It opened in 51 screens across Turkey on 3 April 2009 at number thirteen in the Turkish box office chart with an opening weekend gross of $14,095. Yengeç Oyunu was later screened at the 21st Ankara International Film Festival in March 2010.

Death Özgentürk died on 15 May 2025, at the age of 79.

Filmography At (The Horse) (1982) Bekci (The Guardian) (1985) Hazal (1979) Su da yanar (Water Also Burns) (1987) Ciplak (The Nude) (1991) Sir (1997) Mektup (1998) Yengeç Oyunu (The Crab Game) (2009)

Awards 1980 Prades Film Festival First Prize for Hazal 1980 Mannheim Film Festival Golden Ducat Award for Hazal 1980 Mannheim Film Festival Ecumenical Jury Award for Hazal 1980 Mannheim Film Festival Audience Award for Hazal 1980 San Sebastian Film Festival Best New Director Award for Hazal 1982 Valencia Film Festival Second Place Prize for At (The Horse) 1983 São Paulo Film Festival Second Place Prize for At (The Horse) 1983 Lecce Film Festival Grand Prize for At (The Horse) 1985 Tokyo Film Festival Yasujirō Ozu Award for At (The Horse) 1986 Strasbourg Human Rights Film Festival Second Place Prize for Bekci (The Guardian) 1993 Antalya Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Ciplak (The Nude)