Yeşim Ustaoğlu

Yeşim Ustaoğlu (born 18 November 1960) is a Turkish filmmaker and screenwriter.

Life and career Ustaoğlu was born in Kars, Sarıkamış and grew up in Trabzon on the Black Sea. After studying architecture at Karadeniz Technical University she moved to Istanbul, attended master's programme in Yıldız Technical University, Before she made her feature film debut The Trace (İz) in 1994, she had made several award-winning short films. The Trace was entered into the 19th Moscow International Film Festival.

Ustaoğlu received international recognition for her next film, Journey to the Sun (Güneşe Yolculuk), which told a story of a friendship between a Turk and a Kurd.

Filmography Year English Title Original Title Notes 1984 To Catch a Moment Bir Anı Yakalamak short film 1989 Magnafantagna Magnafantagna short film 1990 Duet Düet short film 1992 Hotel Otel short film 1994 The Trace Iz feature film debut 1999 Journey to the Sun Güneşe Yolculuk Won the Blue Angel Award at Berlin 2003 Waiting for the Clouds Bulutları Beklerken 2004 Life on Their Shoulders Sırtlarındaki Hayat documentary short film 2008 Pandora's Box Pandora'nın Kutusu Won the Golden Shell Award at San Sebastian International Film Festival 2012 Araf - Somewhere in Between Araf 2016 Clair Obscur Tereddüt Several awards including best picture at the 53rd Antalya International Film Festival 2026 What Remains Artakalan